Method of judging the lip turnover of a seal and apparatus for inserting a seal

ABSTRACT

When a seal is inserted onto a shaft, load applied to a chuck is detected by a load cell, and based on the detected load, the turnover of a lip is judged. More specifically, an operation of inserting and pulling out the seal is performed several times on the shaft. Pull-out force is detected at the time of the last pull-out operation and insertion force is detected at the time of the last insertion operation. If the detected value is greater than a predetermined value, it is judged that the lip has been turned over. Also, a ratio between the aforementioned pull-out force and insertion force is computed. If the value of the computed ratio is less than a predetermined value, it is judged that the lip has been turned over.

This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 09/991,306 filed Dec. 16,1997; now U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,029.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method of judging the lip turnover ofa seal having a lip, such as an oil seal or G seal with a lip, ininserting the seal onto a shaft, and an apparatus for inserting such aseal.

2. Description of the Related Art

In seals with a lip, the point portion of the lip consisting of anelastic member, such as rubber, makes close contact with a shaft to forma seal portion and prevents leakage of oil and invasion of foreignmatter, such as dust, with the seal portion. When such a seal with a lipis fitted on a shaft, the direction of the lip must be directed in adirection in which the seal is inserted onto the shaft.

However, there are cases where at the time of insertion the lip of theseal is turned over due to friction between it and the shaft and isdirected in a direction opposite the insertion direction. If the lip isturned over in this way, a gap will be developed between the sealportion and the shaft and a situation such as leakage of oil andinvasion of dust will take place.

For example, in Japan Utility Model No. 3007446 (Japan Utility ModelApplication No. HEI 6-10536), it has been proposed to provide a cutoutin the outer circumferential edge to easily detect by an air leakagetest whether or not the lip has been turned over.

The air leakage test, however, requires an air supply unit, piping forpassing air from the air supply unit to a chuck hand for clamping aseal, and an expensive sensor for detecting air leakage. Furthermore, anexclusive chuck hand for leakage detection is required. Thus, providinglarge-scale equipment solely for the purpose of detecting the turnoverof a seal is not only disadvantageous in costs, but it also takes timeto detect air leakage. Furthermore, the production efficiency isreduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a turnover judgmentmethod and a seal insertion apparatus which are capable of judging withsimple equipment whether or not the lip of a seal has been turned overin inserting the seal onto a shaft.

To achieve this end, the invention as set forth in a first aspect isconstituted by a turnover judgment method comprising the steps of:inserting a seal with a lip onto a shaft; detecting insertion force ofthe seal; and judging turnover of the lip, based on a result of thedetection.

According to the invention as set forth in the first aspect, theturnover of the lip is judged based on the insertion force of the seal.Therefore, the turnover of the lip can be judged without providinglarge-scale equipment. Also, when the lip is turned over, the turnovercan be immediately detected and a measure to counter the turnover can bequickly taken. As a consequence, the time for inserting the seal ontothe shaft can be shortened.

The invention as set forth in a second aspect is constituted by aturnover judgment method comprising the steps of: (a) performing once ora plurality of times at a time a first operation in which a seal with alip is inserted once onto a shaft at a first predetermined position, asecond operation in which the seal is pulled out from the firstpredetermined position to a second predetermined position at which theseal does not slip out of the shaft, and a third operation in which theseal is again inserted on the shaft from the second predeterminedposition; (b) detecting insertion force applied during the firstoperation; and (c) judging turnover of the lip, based on a result of thedetection.

According to the invention as set forth in the second aspect, theturnover of the lip is judged based on the insertion force appliedduring the first operation. Therefore, when the lip is turned over, theturnover can be immediately detected.

In the invention as set forth in a third aspect, when the seal isinserted on the shaft in the same procedure as the aforementioned, thepull-out force applied during the second operation is detected and theturnover of the lip is judged based on a result of the detection.

According to the invention as set forth in the third aspect, theturnover of the lip is judged based on the insertion force appliedduring the second operation. Therefore, with the state in which the sealis adapted to the shaft as compared with the first operation, thepull-out force is detected and the turnover of the lip can be judgedwith a high degree of accuracy.

In the invention as set forth in a fourth aspect, when the seal isinserted on the shaft in the same procedure as the aforementioned, theinsertion force applied during the second operation is detected and theturnover of the lip is judged based on a result of the detection.

According to the invention as set forth in the fourth aspect, theturnover of the lip is judged based on the insertion force appliedduring the third operation. Therefore, with the state in which the sealis further adapted to the shaft as compared with the second operation,the insertion force is detected and the turnover of the lip can bejudged with an even higher degree of accuracy.

In the invention as set forth in a sixth aspect, when the seal isinserted on the shaft in the same procedure as the aforementioned, theinsertion force applied during the first operation is detected and thepull-out force applied during the second operation is detected. Theratio between the detected insertion force and the detected pull-outforce is computed, and the turnover of the lip is judged based on thevalue of the computed ratio.

According to the invention as set forth in the sixth aspect, theturnover of the lip is judged based on the ratio between the insertionforce during the first operation and the pull-out force during thesecond operation. Therefore, even when external noise gets into thedetected value of the insertion force or pull-out force, the noisecomponent is easily canceled and the turnover of the lip can be judgedwith a high degree of accuracy.

In the invention as set forth in a seventh aspect, when the seal isinserted on the shaft in the same procedure as the aforementioned, theinsertion force applied during the first operation is detected and theinsertion force applied during the third operation is detected. Theratio between the detected two insertion forces is computed, and theturnover of the lip is judged based on the value of the computed ratio.

According to the invention as set forth in the seventh aspect, theturnover of the lip is judged based on the ratio between the insertionforce during the first operation and the insertion force during thethird operation. Therefore, even when external noise gets into thedetected values of the two insertion forces, the noise component iseasily canceled and the turnover of the lip can be judged with a highdegree of accuracy.

In the invention as set forth in a ninth aspect, when the seal isinserted on the shaft in the same procedure as the aforementioned, thepull-out force applied during the second operation is detected after afixed time has elapsed since a start of the second operation, and theturnover of the lip is judged based on a result of the detection.

According to the invention as set forth in the ninth aspect, thepull-out force applied during the second operation is detected after afixed time has elapsed since a start of the second operation. Therefore,the pull-out force is detected after the pull-out operation has beenstabilized. Even when external noise gets into the detected value of thepull-out force, the noise component is easily canceled and the turnoverof the lip can be judged with a high degree of accuracy.

In the invention as set forth in a tenth aspect, when the seal isinserted on the shaft in the same procedure as the aforementioned, theinsertion force applied during the third operation is detected after afixed time has elapsed since a start of the third operation, and theturnover of the lip is judged based on a result of the detection.

According to the invention as set forth in the tenth aspect, theinsertion force applied during the third operation is detected after afixed time has elapsed since a start of the third operation. Therefore,the insertion force is detected after the pull-out operation has beenstabilized. Even when external noise gets into the detected value of theinsertion force, the noise component is easily canceled and the turnoverof the lip can be judged with a high degree of accuracy.

In the invention as set forth in a twelfth aspect, when the seal isinserted on the shaft in the same procedure as the aforementioned, theinsertion force applied during the first operation is detected after afixed time has elapsed since a start of the first operation. Also, thepull-out force applied during the second operation is detected after afixed time has elapsed since a start of the second operation. The ratiobetween the detected insertion force and the detected pull-out force iscomputed, and the turnover of the lip is judged based on a result of thecomputation.

According to the invention as set forth in the twelfth aspect, theinsertion force during the first operation and the pull-out force duringthe second operation are detected after a fixed time has elapsed since astart of the operation. Furthermore, the ratio between the detectedinsertion force and pull-out force is employed in the turnover judgment.Therefore, the insertion force or the pull-out force is detected afterthe insertion or pull-out operation has been stabilized. Even whenexternal noise gets into the detected value of the insertion or pull-outforce, the noise component is completely canceled and the turnover ofthe lip can be judged with an even higher degree of accuracy.

In the invention as set forth in a thirteenth aspect, when the seal isinserted on the shaft in the same procedure as the aforementioned, theinsertion force applied during the first operation is detected after afixed time has elapsed since a start of the first operation. Also, theinsertion force applied during the third operation is detected after afixed time has elapsed since a start of the third operation. The ratiobetween the detected two insertion forces is computed, and the turnoverof the lip is judged based on a result of the computation.

According to the invention as set forth in the thirteenth aspect, theinsertion force during the first operation and the insertion forceduring the third operation are detected after a fixed time has elapsedsince a start of the operation. Furthermore, the ratio between thedetected two insertion forces is employed in the turnover judgment.Therefore, the insertion force is detected after the insertion operationhas been stabilized. Even when external noise gets into the detectedvalue of the insertion force, the noise component is completely canceledand the turnover of the lip can be judged with an even higher degree ofaccuracy.

In the invention as set forth in the fifteenth aspect, when the seal isinserted on the shaft in the same procedure as the aforementioned, theinsertion force during the first operation is detected over apredetermined time after a fixed time has elapsed since a start of thefirst operation. An average value of results of the detections iscomputed, and the turnover of the lip is judged based on the averagevalue.

According to the invention as set forth in the fifteenth aspect, anerror in the turnover judgment which is caused by unexpected noise canbe eliminated in addition to the advantage of the case of the secondaspect.

In the invention as set forth in a sixteenth aspect, when the seal isinserted on the shaft in the same procedure as the aforementioned, thepull-out force during the second operation is detected over apredetermined time after a fixed time has elapsed since a start of thesecond operation. An average value of results of the detections iscomputed, and the turnover of the lip is judged based on the averagevalue.

According to the invention as set forth in the sixteenth aspect, anerror in the turnover judgment which is caused by unexpected noise canbe eliminated in addition to the advantage of the case of the thirdaspect.

In the invention as set forth in a seventeenth aspect, when the seal isinserted on the shaft in the same procedure as the aforementioned, theinsertion force during the third operation is detected over apredetermined time after a fixed time has elapsed since a start of thethird operation. An average value of results of the detections iscomputed, and the turnover of the lip is judged based on the averagevalue.

According to the invention as set forth in the seventeenth aspect, anerror in the turnover judgment which is caused by unexpected noise canbe eliminated in addition to the advantage of the case of the fourthaspect.

In the invention as set forth in a nineteenth aspect, when the seal isinserted on the shaft in the same procedure as the aforementioned, theinsertion force applied during the first operation is over apredetermined time after a fixed time has elapsed since a start of thefirst operation, and the average value of the detection results iscomputed. The pull-out force applied during the second operation isdetected over a predetermined time after a fixed time has elapsed sincea start of the second operation, and the average value of the detectionresults is computed. The ratio between the detected two average valuesis computed, and the turnover of the lip is judged based on a result ofthe computation.

According to the invention as set forth in the nineteenth aspect, anerror in the turnover judgment which is caused by unexpected noise canbe eliminated in addition to the advantage of the case of the sixthaspect.

In the invention as set forth in the twentieth aspect, when the seal isinserted on the shaft in the same procedure as the aforementioned, theinsertion force applied during the first operation is over apredetermined time after a fixed time has elapsed since a start of thefirst operation, and the average value of the detection results iscomputed. The insertion force applied during the third operation isdetected over a predetermined time after a fixed time has elapsed sincea start of the third operation, and the average value of the detectionresults is computed. The ratio between the detected two average valuesis computed, and the turnover of the lip is judged based on a result ofthe computation.

According to the invention as set forth in the twentieth aspect, anerror in the turnover judgment which is caused by unexpected noise canbe eliminated in addition to the advantage of the case of the seventhaspect.

In the invention as set forth in a twenty-second aspect, when the sealis inserted on the shaft in the same procedure as the aforementioned,the insertion force applied during the first operation is sequentiallymeasured to detect an insertion force waveform. The relative positionbetween the shaft and the seal is estimated from a characteristic of thedetected insertion force waveform. Insertion force is detected at theestimated position, and the turnover of the lip is judged based on aresult of the detection.

According to the invention as set forth in the twenty-second aspect, anerror in the measurement is reduced for each work piece and the turnoverjudgment can be accurately performed.

The invention as set forth in a twenty-fifth aspect is constituted by aturnover judgment method comprising the steps of: inserting a seal witha lip onto a shaft, while relatively rotating the seal and the shaft;detecting insertion force when the seal is inserted; and judgingturnover of the lip, based on a result of the detection.

According to the invention as set forth in the twenty-fifth aspect, theturnover judgment of the lip configuration and the insertion operationcan be performed at the same time. Therefore, the assembly time can beshortened.

In a seal inserting apparatus which inserts a seal with a lip onto ashaft by performing once or a plurality of times at a time a firstoperation in which the seal is inserted once onto a shaft at a firstpredetermined position, a second operation in which the seal is pulledout from the first predetermined position to a second predeterminedposition at which the seal does not slip out of the shaft, and a thirdoperation in which the seal is again inserted on the shaft from thesecond predetermined position, the invention as set forth in atwenty-ninth aspect comprises detection means for detecting insertionforce applied during the first operation and judgment means for judgingturnover of the lip, based on a result of the detection.

According to the invention as set forth in the twenty-ninth aspect, theturnover of the lip is judged based on the insertion force appliedduring the first operation. Therefore, as with the case of the secondaspect, when the lip is turned over, the turnover can be immediatelydetected.

In the same seal inserting apparatus as the aforementioned, theinvention as set forth in a thirtieth aspect comprises detection meansfor detecting pull-out force applied during the second operation andjudgment means for judging turnover of the lip, based on a result of thedetection.

According to the invention as set forth in the thirtieth aspect, theturnover of the lip is judged based on the insertion force appliedduring the second operation. Therefore, as with the case of the third,with the state in which the seal is adapted to the shaft as comparedwith the first operation, the pull-out force is detected and theturnover of the lip can be judged with a high degree of accuracy.

In the same seal inserting apparatus as the aforementioned, theinvention as set forth in a thirty-first aspect comprises detectionmeans for detecting insertion force applied during the third operationand judgment means for judging turnover of the lip, based on a result ofthe detection.

According to the invention as set forth in the thirty-first aspect, theturnover of the lip is judged based on the insertion force appliedduring the third operation. Therefore, as with the case of the fourthaspect, with the state in which the seal is further adapted to the shaftas compared with the second operation, the insertion force is detectedand the turnover of the lip can be judged with an even higher degree ofaccuracy.

In the same seal inserting apparatus as the aforementioned, theinvention as set forth in a thirty-third aspect comprises detectionmeans for detecting insertion force applied during the first operationand pull-out force applied during the second operation, ratiocomputation means for computing a ratio between the detected insertionforce and the detected pull-out force, and judgment means for judgingturnover of the lip, based on a result of the computation.

According to the invention as set forth in the thirty-third aspect, theturnover of the lip is judged based on the ratio between the insertionforce during the first operation and the pull-out force during thesecond operation. Therefore, as with the case of the sixth aspect, evenwhen external noise gets into the detected value of the insertion forceor pull-out force, the noise component is easily canceled and theturnover of the lip can be judged with a high degree of accuracy.

In the same seal inserting apparatus as the aforementioned, theinvention as set forth in a thirty-fourth aspect comprises detectionmeans for detecting insertion force applied during the first operationand insertion force applied during the third operation, ratiocomputation means for computing a ratio between the detected twoinsertion forces, and judgment means for judging turnover of the lip,based on a result of the computation.

According to the invention as set forth in the thirty-fourth aspect, theturnover of the lip is judged based on the ratio between the insertionforce during the first operation and the insertion force during thethird operation. Therefore, as with the case of the sixth aspect, evenwhen external noise gets into the detected values of the two insertionforces, the noise component is easily canceled and the turnover of thelip can be judged with a high degree of accuracy.

In the same seal inserting apparatus as the aforementioned, theinvention as set forth in a thirty-sixth aspect comprises detectionmeans for detecting pull-out force applied during the second operationafter a fixed time has elapsed since a start of the second operation andjudgment means for judging turnover of the lip, based on a result of thedetection.

According to the invention as set forth in the thirty-sixth aspect, thepull-out force applied during the second operation is detected after afixed time has elapsed since a start of the second operation Therefore,as with the case of the ninth aspect, the pull-out force is detectedafter the pull-out operation has been stabilized. Even when externalnoise gets into the detected value of the pull-out force, the noisecomponent is easily canceled and the turnover of the lip can be judgedwith a high degree of accuracy.

In the same seal inserting apparatus as the aforementioned, theinvention as set forth in a thirty-seventh aspect comprises detectionmeans for detecting insertion force applied during the third operationafter a fixed time has elapsed since a start of the third operation andjudgment means for judging turnover of the lip, based on a result of thedetection.

According to the invention as set forth in the thirty-seventh aspect,the insertion force applied during the third operation is detected aftera fixed time has elapsed since a start of the third operation.Therefore, as with the case of the tenth aspect, the insertion force isdetected after the pull-out operation has been stabilized Even whenexternal noise gets into the detected value of the insertion force, thenoise component is easily canceled and the turnover of the lip can bejudged with a high degree of accuracy.

In the same seal inserting apparatus as the aforementioned, theinvention as set forth in a thirty-ninth aspect comprises detectionmeans for detecting insertion force applied during the first operationafter a fixed time has elapsed since a start of the first operation andalso detecting pull-out force applied during the second operation aftera fixed time has elapsed since a start of the second operation, ratiocomputation means for computing a ratio between the detected insertionforce and the detected pull-out force, and judgment means for judgingturnover of the lip, based on a result of the computation.

According to the invention as set forth in the thirty-ninth aspect, theinsertion force during the first operation and the pull-out force duringthe second operation are detected after a fixed time has elapsed since astart of the operation. Furthermore, the ratio between the detectedinsertion force and pull-out force is employed in the turnover judgment.Therefore, as with the case of the twelfth aspect, the insertion forceor the pull-out force is detected after the insertion or pull-outoperation has been stabilized. Even when external noise gets into thedetected value of the insertion or pull-out force, the noise componentis completely canceled and the turnover of the lip can be judged with aneven higher degree of accuracy.

In the same seal inserting apparatus as the aforementioned, theinvention as set forth in a fortieth aspect comprises detection meansfor detecting insertion force applied during the first operation after afixed time has elapsed since a start of the first operation and alsodetecting insertion force applied during the third operation after afixed time has elapsed since a start of the third operation, ratiocomputation means for computing a ratio between the detected twoinsertion forces, and judgment means for judging turnover of the lip,based on a result of the computation.

According to the invention as set forth in the fortieth aspect, theinsertion force during the first operation and the insertion forceduring the third operation are detected after a fixed time has elapsedsince a start of the operation. Furthermore, the ratio between thedetected two insertion forces is employed in the turnover judgment.Therefore, as with the case of claim 13, the insertion force is detectedafter the insertion operation has been stabilized. Even when externalnoise gets into the detected value of the insertion force, the noisecomponent is completely canceled and the turnover of the lip can bejudged with an even higher degree of accuracy.

In the same seal inserting apparatus as the aforementioned, theinvention as set forth in a forty-second aspect comprises detectionmeans for detecting insertion force applied during the first operationover a predetermined time after a fixed time has elapsed since a startof the first operation, average value computation means for computing anaverage value of results of the detections, and judgment means forjudging turnover of the lip, based on the average value

According to the invention as set forth in the forty-second aspect, anerror in the turnover judgment which is caused by unexpected noise canbe eliminated in addition to the advantage of the case of thetwenty-ninth aspect.

In the same seal inserting apparatus as the aforementioned, theinvention as set forth in a forty-third aspect comprises detection meansfor detecting pull-out force applied during the second operation over apredetermined time after a fixed time has elapsed since a start of thesecond operation, average value computation means for computing anaverage value of results of the detections, and judgment means forjudging turnover of the lip, based on the average value.

According to the invention as set forth in the forty-third aspect, anerror in the turnover judgment which is caused by unexpected noise canbe eliminated in addition to the advantage of the case of the thirtiethaspect.

In the same seal inserting apparatus as the aforementioned, theinvention as set forth in a forty-fourth aspect comprises detectionmeans for detecting insertion force applied during the third operationover a predetermined time after a fixed time has elapsed since a startof the third operation, average value computation means for computing anaverage value of results of the detections, and judgment means forjudging turnover of the lip, based on the average value.

According to the invention as set forth in the forty-fourth aspect, anerror in the turnover judgment which is caused by unexpected noise canbe eliminated in addition to the advantage of the case of thethirty-first aspect.

In the same seal inserting apparatus as the aforementioned, theinvention as set forth in a forty-sixth aspect comprises: detectionmeans for detecting insertion force applied during the first operationover a predetermined time after a fixed time has elapsed since a startof the first operation and also detecting pull-out force applied duringthe second operation over a predetermined time after a fixed time haselapsed since a start of the second operation; average value computationmeans for computing an average value of results of the detectionsperformed during the first operation and also computing an average valueof results of the detections performed during the second operation;ratio computation means for computing a ratio between the detected twoaverage values; and judgment means for judging turnover of the lip,based on the computed ratio.

According to the invention as set forth in the forty-sixth aspect, anerror in the turnover judgment which is caused by unexpected noise canbe eliminated in addition to the advantage of the case of thethirty-third aspect.

In the same seal inserting apparatus as the aforementioned, theinvention as set forth in a forty-seventh aspect comprises: detectionmeans for detecting insertion force applied during the first operationover a predetermined time after a fixed time has elapsed since a startof the first operation and also detecting insertion force applied duringthe third operation over a predetermined time after a fixed time haselapsed since a start of the third operation; average value computationmeans for computing an average value of results of the detectionsperformed during the first operation and also computing an average valueof results of the detections performed during the third operation; ratiocomputation means for computing a ratio between the detected two averagevalues; and judgment means for judging turnover of the lip, based on thecomputed ratio.

According to the invention as set forth in the forty-seventh aspect, anerror in the turnover judgment which is caused by unexpected noise canbe eliminated in addition to the advantage of the case of thethirty-fourth aspect.

In the same seal inserting apparatus as the aforementioned, theinvention as set forth in a forty-ninth aspect comprises: means forsequentially measuring insertion force applied during the firstoperation to detect an insertion force waveform; detection means forestimating relative position between the shaft and the seal from acharacteristic of the detected insertion force waveform and detectinginsertion force at the estimated position; and judgment means forjudging turnover of the lip, based on a result of the detection.

According to the invention as set forth in the forty-ninth aspect, anerror in the measurement is reduced for each work piece and the turnoverjudgment can be accurately performed.

The invention as set forth in a fifty-second aspect is constituted by anapparatus for inserting a seal with a lip onto a shaft, comprising: achuck for directly or indirectly clamping the seal; detection means fordetecting insertion force when the seal clamped by the chuck is insertedonto the seal; and judgment means for judging turnover of the lip, basedon a result of the detection The invention as set forth in a fifty-thirdaspect is constituted by an apparatus for inserting a seal with a liponto a shaft, comprising: a chuck for directly or indirectly clampingthe seal; detection means for detecting insertion force when the sealclamped by the chuck is inserted onto the seal and also detectingpull-out force when the seal is pulled out to a position at which theseal does not slip out of the shaft; and judgment means for judgingturnover of the lip, based on a result of the detection.

According to the invention as set forth in the fifty-second orfifty-third aspect, the turnover of the lip is judged based on theinsertion force or pull-out force of the seal. Therefore, the turnoverof the lip can be judged without providing large-scale equipment.

In a seal inserting apparatus which inserts a seal with a lip onto ashaft while relatively rotating the seal and the shaft, the invention asset forth in claim 55 comprises detection means for detecting insertionforce when the seal is inserted and judgment means for judging turnoverof the lip, based on a result of the detection.

According to the invention as set forth in a fifty-first aspect, theturnover judgment of the lip configuration and the insertion operationcan be performed at the same time. Therefore, as with the case of claim29, the assembly time can be shortened.

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments of the invention when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a seal inserting apparatus whichinserts a seal onto a shaft, while rotating the shaft;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing another example of the rotationapplication mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a seal inserting apparatus whichinserts a seal onto a shaft, while rotating the seal;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a seal inserting apparatus whichinserts a seal onto a shaft, while rotating both the seal and the shaft;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a robot for inserting the seal;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the robot shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the chuck hand;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the chuck hand shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing another example of the chuck hand;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the chuck hand shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing still another example of the chuck hand;

FIG. 12 is a side view of the chuck hand shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view showing the shaft into which aseal is inserted;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the seal normally inserted on the shaft;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of the seal abnormally inserted on theshaft;

FIG. 16 is a conceptual diagram the operation example of seal insertion;

FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining a first method of judging theturnover of a lip;

FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining a second method of judging theturnover of a lip;

FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining a third method of judging theturnover of a lip;

FIG. 20 is a diagram for explaining a fourth method of judging theturnover of a lip;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart for explaining a fifth method of judging theturnover of a lip;

FIG. 22 is a sectional view used to explain a method of returning theturnover of the lip by utilizing a D-cutout portion provided in thepoint end portion of the shaft;

FIG. 23(A) is a front view of the shaft having a D-cutout portion;

FIG. 23(B) is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line B—Bof FIG. 23(A);

FIG. 24(A) is a front view of the shaft formed with a cutout portionhaving a cylinder-shaped convex surface;

FIG. 24(B) is a cross sectional view of the cutout portion shown in FIG.24(A);

FIG. 25(A) is a front view of the shaft formed with a cutout portionhaving a cylinder-shaped concave surface;

FIG. 25(B) is a cross sectional view of the cutout portion shown in FIG.25(A);

FIG. 26(A) is a front view of the shaft formed with a cutout portionhaving a groove;

FIG. 26(B) is a cross sectional view of the cutout portion shown in FIG.26(A);

FIG. 27(A) is a front view of the shaft formed with cutout portions;

FIG. 27(B) is a cross sectional view of the cutout portions shown inFIG. 27(A);

FIG. 28(A) is a front view of the shaft formed with cutout portions eachhaving a cylinder-shaped convex surface;

FIG. 28(B) is a cross sectional view of the cutout portions shown inFIG. 28(A);

FIG. 29 is a sectional view used to explain a method of returning theturnover of the lip by utilizing a D-cutout portion provided in thelongitudinal intermediate portion of the shaft;

FIG. 30 is a sectional view used to explain a method of returning theturnover of the lip by utilizing a circumferential groove provided inthe exterior surface of the shaft;

FIG. 31 is a sectional view used to explain a method of returning theturnover of the lip by utilizing a seal attaching member provided with aD-cutout portion;

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing the relation between the D-cutout portionof the seal attaching member and the inner diameter of the lip;

FIG. 33(A) is a perspective view showing how the seal attaching memberand the shaft are connected together, they being connected by means of asquare protrusion and a square hole;

FIG. 33(B) is a perspective view showing how the seal attaching memberand the shaft are connected together, they being connected by means of acylindrical protrusion and a cylindrical hole;

FIG. 33(C) is a perspective view showing how the seal attaching memberand the shaft are connected together, they being connected by means of acylindrical protrusion, a cylindrical hole, and a magnet;

FIG. 33(D) is a perspective view showing how the seal attaching memberand the shaft are connected together, they being connected by means of amagnet;

FIG. 34(A) is a front view of the seal attaching member formed with acutout portion having a cylinder-shaped convex surface;

FIG. 34(B) is a cross sectional view of the cutout portion shown in FIG.34(A);

FIG. 35(A) is a front view of the seal attaching member formed with acutout portion having a cylinder-shaped concave surface;

FIG. 35(B) is a cross sectional view of the cutout portion shown in FIG.35(A);

FIG. 36(A) is a front view of the seal attaching member formed with acutout portion having a groove;

FIG. 36(B) is a cross sectional view of the cutout portion shown in FIG.36(A);

FIG. 37(A) is a front view of the seal attaching member formed withcutout portions;

FIG. 37(B) is a cross sectional view of the cutout portions shown inFIG. 37(A);

FIG. 38(A) is a front view of the seal attaching member formed withcutout portions each having a cylinder-shaped convex surface;

FIG. 38(B) is a cross sectional view of the cutout portions shown inFIG. 38(A);

FIG. 39 is a front view showing a seal attaching member where aninclined surface is formed on a stepped portion; and

FIG. 40 is a sectional view used to explain a method of returning theturnover of the lip by utilizing a circumferential groove provided in aseal attaching member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter be described indetail in reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a seal inserting apparatus accordingto the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes aseal with a lip. This seal 10 is held by a holding member 11. Theholding member 11 is clamped by a chuck hand 12, and the seal 10 isindirectly clamped by the chuck hand 12. Of course, the seal 10 may bedirectly clamped by the chuck hand 12 without intervention of theholding member 11.

The chuck hand 12 is attached to a robot 13 so that it can freely bereciprocated in X, Y, and Z directions shown in FIG. 1. The robot 13 isequipped with a first member 13A arranged in the X direction, a secondmember 13B arranged in the Y direction, and a third member 13C arrangedin the Z direction. The second member 13B reciprocates in the Xdirection along the first member 13A. The third member 13C reciprocatesin the Y direction along the second member 13B. The chuck hand 12reciprocates in the Z direction along the third member 13C. In thisembodiment, while the robot 13 has three axes, it may have a single axisor two axes Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to theorthogonal type, but it is also applicable to a scalar type or polarcoordinate type of robot.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a shaft into which the seal 10 is inserted.The shaft 14 is attached to the end face of a cylindrical or tubularcomponent 15. This component 15 is provided over a working table 16 sothat it is freely rotatable. A rotation application plate 17 is providedabove the component 15, and one end of the plate 17 is connected to afirst cylinder 18. The first cylinder 18 is supported by a secondcylinder 19. The rotation application plate 17, the first cylinder 18,and the second cylinder 19 as a whole constitute a rotational-forceapplication mechanism for applying rotational force to the component 15.

In this seal inserting apparatus, when the seal 10 is inserted onto theshaft 14, the holding member 11 is clamped with the chuck hand 12 andthe first cylinder 18 is pulled downward by the second cylinder 19. Ifthe first cylinder 18 is pulled downward, the rotation application plate17 can be pressed against the exterior circumference of the component15. In this position, if the rotation application plate 17 isreciprocated in the Y direction by the first cylinder 18, the component15 will repeat rotation and reverse rotation with the shaft 14. Then,the robot 13 is driven to move the chuck hand 12 in the Y or Z directionso that the center of the seal 10 held by the holding member 11 isaligned with the center axis of the shaft 14. The chuck hand 12 is alsomoved in the X direction to move the seal 10 toward the end of the shaft14, and the seal 10 is inserted onto the shaft 14 being rotated orreversely rotated.

At this time, the shaft 14 and the lip of the seal 10 are rubbed witheach other in the rotational direction, and the friction between them isreduced in the direction in which the seal 10 is inserted. Also, if themovement quantity of the chuck hand 12 is adjusted when moving in the Xdirection, the seal 10 can be inserted onto the shaft 14 at a desiredposition.

FIG. 2 shows another example of the rotation application mechanism. Inthis example, above the component 15 a rotating roller 20 and a drivenroller 21 are arranged in parallel to the component 15. The rotatingroller 20 and the driven roller 21 are provided in a support body 22 sothat they are freely rotatable, and both exterior circumferences 20 and21 abut each other. A motor 23 is provided above the support body 22 andis connected to the rotating roller 20. If the motor 23 is rotated, therotating roller 20 and the driven roller 21 will rotate in directionsopposite to each other. The support body 22 is connected to a cylinder24.

When the seal 10 is inserted onto the shaft 14, the cylinder 24 isdriven to move the support body 22 downward. If the rotating roller 20is pressed against the exterior circumference of the component 15, therotational drive force of the motor 23 will be transmitted to thecomponent 15 through the rotating roller 20, and the component 15 willrotate with the shaft 14. When the component 15 is reversely rotated,the support body 22 is moved in a direction of arrow A by a cylinder(not shown) so that the driven roller 21 abut the exterior circumferenceof the component 15. Note that if either the rotating roller 20 or thedriven roller 21 is used, the shaft 14 can be rotated continuously inone direction.

In the rotation application mechanism shown in FIG. 2, while therotating roller 20 and the driven roller 21 has contacted each other atthe respective exterior circumferences so that they rotate in oppositedirections, they may be separated from each other to rotate only therotating roller 20 with the motor 23. If they are constructed in thisway, both the rotating roller 20 and the driven roller willsimultaneously abut the exterior circumference of the component 15 whenthe support body 22 is pushed downward, and the rotating roller 20,driven roller 21, and the component 15 can rotate in a stable position.Note that in this case, if the motor 23 is reversely rotated, thecomponent 15 can be reversely rotated.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 the component 15 has been rotated, but there are caseswhere a component cannot be rotated. In such a case, the seal 10 isrotated. The example is shown in FIG. 3. In the figure, the chuck hand12 is attached to the robot 13 through a rotary mechanism 25. The rotarymechanism 25 is rotatable in both directions, and with rotation of therotary mechanism 25, the chuck hand 12 also rotates in both directions.On the other hand, a component 26 placed on the working table 16 is, forexample, a rectangular cube and cannot be rotated. To this component 26the shaft 14 is attached.

When the seal 10 is inserted onto the shaft 14, the robot 13 is drivenso that the center of the seal 10 held by the holding member 11 isaligned with the center axis of the shaft 14. Then, while the seal 10 isbeing rotated or reversely rotated by the rotary mechanism 25, it isinserted onto the shaft 14. As with the case of FIG. 1 or 2, the shaft14 and the lip of the seal 10 are rubbed with each other in therotational direction, and the friction between them is reduced in theseal inserting direction. The rotary mechanism 25 preferably isconstituted by a rotary mechanism which is rotated by a motor or arotary cylinder.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the case where both a component and a shaftare rotated to insert a seal onto the shaft. In the example of FIG. 4,when a component 27 placed on a working table 16 cannot be directlyrotated, both a seal 10 and the component 27 are rotated. A first chuckhand 12, as with the case of FIG. 13, is attached to a robot 13 througha first rotary mechanism 25. On the other hand, the component 27 isclamped by a second chuck hand 28. This chuck hand 28 is fixed on theworking table 16 through a second rotary mechanism 29. To the component27 a shaft 14 is connected.

When the seal 10 is inserted onto the shaft 14, the first chuck hand 12is rotated by the first rotary mechanism 25, and the component 27 isalso rotated by the second rotary mechanism 29. That is, while the seal10 and the shaft 14 are being rotated, the seal 10 is inserted onto theshaft 14. Therefore, the shaft 14 and the lip of the seal 10 are rubbedwith each other in the rotational direction, and the friction in theseal inserting direction is reduced. Note that the second rotarymechanism 29 is preferable to be a rotary mechanism which is rotated bya motor or a rotary cylinder. Also, the rotational directions of therotary mechanisms 25 and 29 are preferably opposite to each other.

Now, a detailed description will be given of the structure of theaforementioned robot 13.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the robot 13 and FIG. 6 is a side view of therobot 13. The robot 13 is mounted on a support table 30 and ispositioned with respect to the working table 16 (FIG. 1 or FIG. 3). Thechuck hand 12 is provided with a load cell 31. The load cell 31 sends adetection signal (load detection signal) to a computer 33 through a loadcell amplifier 32. A robot controller 34 is provided for controlling theoperation of the robot 13. The robot controller 34 and the computer 33are connected with each other for signal transmission and receptiontherebetween.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the detail structure of the chuck hand 12and FIG. 8 is a side view of the chuck hand 12. The chuck hand 12 isattached to the hand attaching portion of the robot 13 through a base35. The base 35 shown in FIG. 7 is provided for sliding the chuck hand12 in a vertical direction (Z direction) along the hand attachingportion of the robot 13, but if the base 35 is replaced with the rotarymechanism 25 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be possible to rotate thechuck hand 12. This arrangement can cope with the case where thedirection (direction in which a seal is supplied) in which the chuckhand 12 chucks the seal 10 or the aforementioned holding member 11 (theseal and the holding member will hereinafter be referred to as a seal)differs from the direction in which a seal is inserted.

The rear end of the base 35 (in FIG. 7 the left direction is rear andthe right direction is front) is fixed to an L-shaped bracket 36. Thecentral flat portion of the base 35 is provided with a guide rail 35Bhaving stoppers 35A at both ends thereof To the guide rail 35B a slideportion 37 is attached. The slide portion 37 is movable in a lateraldirection of FIG. 7 (seal inserting direction) along the guide rail 35B.

A movable base 38 is fixed to the slide portion 37. At the front end ofthe movable base 38 a seal chuck 39 is attached for clamping a seal. Theseal chuck 39 is provided with a seal sensor 40 for detecting whether ornot there is a seal. This seal sensor 40 informs the robot controller 34of whether or not there is a seal.

A jam detection dog 41 is attached to the rear end of the movable base38. If the movable base 38 is moved in a direction (left direction inFIG. 7) away from a work piece, the jam detection dog 41 will cross ajam sensor 42 fixed to the L-shaped bracket 36. The aforementioned loadcell 31 is fixed to the rear end of the movable base 38 through anattaching block 38A.

The rear end of the load cell 31 remote from the attaching block 38A isprovided with two shafts 43 each having a flanged end. The shafts 43 areinserted into holes formed in the bracket 36, respectively. Between therear end of the load cell 31 and the bracket 36, there are provided twocoil springs 44. The coil springs 44 are inserted onto the shafts 43,respectively. Between the coil spring 44 and the shaft 43, a gap isformed so that the coil spring 44 does not contact the shaft 43. When aseal inserting operation is not performed, the slide portion 37 is urgedby the coil springs 44 and is pressed against the stopper 35A on theside near the chuck 39.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show another example of the chuck hand. FIG. 9 is a planview of a chuck hand 12′ and FIG. 10 is a side view of the chuck hand12′. In this chuck hand 12′, a correction mechanism 45 is providedbetween a movable base 38 and a chuck 39 in order to correct offsetbetween a seal and a seal inserting shaft. The correction mechanism 45is constituted by a plurality of correction members 46 which bend in theradial direction of the seal inserting shaft but do not expand in theaxial direction. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, threecorrection members 46 are arranged in parallel to each other. Thus, thecorrection mechanism 45 can move the chuck 39 only in the radialdirection of the aforementioned seal inserting shaft.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show still another example of the chuck hand. FIG. 11 isa plan view of a chuck hand 12″ and FIG. 12 is a side view of the chuckhand 12″. The chuck hand 12′ is provided with a coil spring 47, an aircylinder 48, a shaft 49, and a sensor 50 instead of the jam detectiondog 41, jam sensor 42, and coil spring 44 provided in the aforementionedchuck hand 12′. This example is provided with only a single shaft 43.

The coil spring 47 is provided between the flange portion of the shaft43 and the bracket 36 so that it does not contact the exteriorcircumference of the shaft 43. The air cylinder 48 is fixed to thesurface of the bracket 36 remote from the load cell 31. The air cylinder48 is provided with the shaft 49, which in turn contacts the rear end ofthe load cell 31. The air cylinder 48 is further provided with thesensor 50 for detecting the position of the shaft 49. The sensor 50 isconnected to a robot controller 34 so that hand jam information can besent to the robot controller 34. The force for pushing out the shaft 49of the air cylinder 48 is stronger than the urging force of the spring47. In the position where the shaft 49 is fully pushed out of thecylinder 48, the shaft 49 can be positioned. At this position, the chuck39 mounted on the movable base 38 can be positioned. In FIG. 12,reference numeral 51 denotes an air compressor, which supplies air tothe air cylinder 48. Reference numeral 52 denotes a regulator whichcontrols the flow rate of air.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view showing the shaft 14 into whicha seal is inserted. Although not shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, the shaft14 consists of a cylindrical large-diameter portion 14A, an axialportion 14B protruding from the large-diameter portion 14A, and aD-cutout portion 14C formed in the point end of the axial portion 14B.FIG. 14 shows an example of the case where the seal 10 with a lip 10A isfitted on the shaft 14 in a normal state (where the lip 10A is notturned over), while FIG. 15 shows an example of the case where the seal10 is fitted on the shaft 14 in an abnormal state (where the lip 10A isturned over). In the state of FIG. 14 there is no turnover of the lip10A, and in the state in which the seal 10 is set on the shaft 14, thereis no possibility that oil or dust will flow from the large-diameterportion 14A of the shaft toward the D-cutout portion 14C. On the otherhand, in the state of FIG. 15, since the lip 10A has been turned over,oil or dust will flow from the large-diameter portion 14A of the shafttoward the D-cutout portion 14C.

Now, a description will be given of the seal inserting operation whichis performed by the aforementioned embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 shows the operation example as the seal 10 is inserted onto theshaft 14 with a configuration such as that shown in FIG. 13. Of course,assume that when the seal 10 is inserted onto the shaft 10, the lip 10Ahas been directed in the direction into which the seal 10 is inserted onthe shaft 14.

First, the seal 10 is moved from position 0 shown in FIG. 16 to position1 at an appropriate speed, and the seal 10 is inserted from the D-cutoutportion 14C of the shaft 14 on the cylindrical axial portion 14B. Then,between position 2 and position 3, the seal 10 is advanced at a firstspeed (e.g., 40 mm/s). Note that the position 3 needs to be a positionat which the seal 10 does not contact the end face of the large-diameterportion 14A of the shaft 14. At this time, there is a high possibilitythat the lip 10A of the seal 10 will be completely turned over.Thereafter, the seal 10 is pulled back from the position 3 to position 4at a second speed (e.g., 10 mm/as). Furthermore, the seal 10 is againinserted from the position 4 to position 5 at a third position (e.g., 70mm/s). Preferably, among the aforementioned operations, the operationsat the second and third speeds is performed once or a plurality of times(thrice in the figure) and, at the time of the last insertion, the seal10 is positioned at a predetermined insertion position.

Generally, in the aforementioned operations, the pull-out operationsfrom position 3 to position 4, position 5 to position 6, and fromposition 7 to position 8 are an operation of pulling out the seal 10from the shaft 14, but they are also an operation of correcting theturnover of the lip 10A. Therefore, if this pull-out distance is longer,the turnover of the lip 10A will be corrected more easily. The movementsfrom position 2 to position 3, position 4 to position 5, and fromposition 6 to position 7 are an operation of inserting the seal 10 ontothe shaft 10, but they are also a direction in which the lip 10A iseasily turned over. Therefore, if this distance is shorter, the lip 10Awill be more difficult to be turned over.

Thus, from the aforementioned two conditions the condition in which thelip 10A is difficult to be turned over is that distance to be insertedis short and distance to be pulled out is long. However, these twoconditions conflict with each other, so they cannot be satisfied at thesame time. Hence, as described above, the inserting speed and thepullout speed are changed. That is, the inserting speed is made fast sothat turnover is difficult to occur, and the pull-out speed is made slowso that turnover is easily corrected.

Note that if a shaft onto which a seal is inserted has difference inlevel such as the D-cutout portion 14C of the shaft 14, turnover willoccur in the lip 10A, so the pull-out operation will be performed withinthe cylindrical portion (axial portion 14B) of the shaft as shown inFIG. 16.

At the time of insertion from position 4 to position 5, position 6 toposition 7, and from position 8 to position 9, if relative rotation isattempted to be applied between the seal 10 and the shaft 14, thefrictional force which occurs between the lip 10A and the shaft 14 willoccur not in the direction of insertion but also in the rotationaldirection of the shaft 14 and the friction force in the insertiondirection will be dispersed. As a consequence, the lip 10A is difficultto be turned over at the time of insertion.

Incidentally, when the aforementioned is normally performed, even in thecase where the seal 10 and the shaft 14 are offset from each other inthe radial direction of the shaft 14 when the seal 10 and the shaft 14contact each other, such offset can be corrected if the correctionmechanism 45 is provided as shown in FIGS. 9 through 12. The same alsoholds at the time of abnormality, that is, at the time of hand jam.

In the case where the chuck handle 12 has structure shown in FIGS. 7through 10, if a strong force is applied to the chuck 39 in a directionin which the chuck 39 is pushed, the movable base 38 will contract thespring 44 through the load cell 31. If a further strong force is appliedto the chuck 39, the jam detection dog 41 will cross over the jam sensor42 and the information will be transferred to the robot controller 34.The robot controller 34 will stop the robot 13 as a state of emergency.

In the case where the chuck handle 12″ has structure shown in FIGS. 11and 12, even if force were applied to the chuck 39 in the direction inwhich the chuck is pushed, no portion would move in the axial directionof the seal 10 until a certain force is applied. If the force forpushing the chuck 39 becomes stronger, the movable base 38 will push theshaft 49 of the air cylinder 48 through the load cell 31 and the shaft49 will move. Then, if the shaft 49 comes to the position of the sensor50, it will be detected by the sensor 50 and the information will betransferred to the robot controller 34. The robot controller 34 willstop the robot 13 as a state of emergency.

Now, a description will be given of a turnover judgment method forjudging whether or not turnover has occurred on the lip 10A when theseal 10 was inserted on the shaft 14. As a turnover judgment method, adescription will be made of a first turnover judgment method shown inFIG. 17, a second turnover judgment method shown in FIG. 18, a thirdturnover judgment method shown in FIG. 19, and a fourth turnoverjudgment method shown in FIG. 20.

(First Turnover Judgment Method)

During an operation of seal insertion, voltage proportional to loadapplied to the load cell 31 is output from the load cell 31 and isamplified by the load cell amplifier 32. The waveform of the loadbecomes as shown in FIG. 17. In the figure, the axis of ordinaterepresents insertion force or pull-out force (kgf) and the axis ofabscissa represents time (s). Also, the numbers 0 through 9 in thewaveform correspond to the positions 0 through 9 shown in FIG. 16,respectively.

The computer 33 computes average force by averaging some forces beforethe seal 10 makes contact with the shaft 14 (average force 9: thefollowing maximum value or minimum value represents a value obtained bysubtracting average force 9 from a measured value). Now, the maximumvalue of the insertion force between position 1 of FIG. 16 and position3 is taken to be maximum 1 and the minimum value of the pull-out forcebetween position 3 and position 4 is taken to be minimum 1. The maximumand minimum values at the time of reciprocation thereafter are taken tobe maximum 2, maximum 3, maximum 4, minimum 2, and minimum 3,respectively.

(1) Case of judging with insertion force or pull-out force alone:

When the absolute value of the minimum pull-out force (minimum 3) at thetime of the last pull-out operation is greater than a predeterminedvalue, it is judged that the turnover of the lip 10A has not beencorrected. Even if the seal were inserted as it is, the turnover of thelip 10A would never be corrected. Also, when the maximum insertion force(minimum 4) at the time of the last insertion operation is greater thana predetermined value, it is judged that the lip 10A has been turnedover.

(2) Case of judging with a ratio between insertion force and pull-outforce:

A ratio between the absolute values of the maximum insertion force(maximum 1) obtained at the time of the first insertion and the minimumpull-out force (minimum 3) obtained at the time of the last pull-outoperation is computed. When the ratio between the absolutes is less thana predetermined value, it is judged that the turnover of the lip 10A hasnot been corrected. Even if the seal were inserted as it is, theturnover of the lip 10A would never be corrected. Also, a ratio betweenthe maximum insertion force (maximum 1) obtained at the time of thefirst insertion and the maximum insertion force (maximum 4) obtained atthe time of the last insertion is computed. When this ratio is less thana predetermined value, it is judged that the lip 10A has been turnedover.

In the aforementioned (1) and (2), when it is judged that the lip 10Ahas been turned over, the computer 33 sends the robot controller 34 analarm signal indicating that the lip 10A has been turned over, stopsmovement of the robot 13, and produces alarm sound.

(Second Turnover Judgment Method)

If unexpected noise is added to a voltage signal from the load cell 31,a voltage different from an original value will be input to the computer33. If the input value is the maximum value, it will be used in judgingthe turnover of the lip 10A and result in an error in the turnoverjudgment. In order to prevent this error, the turnover judgment isperformed as shown in FIG. 18.

In the figure, as with FIG. 17, the axis of ordinate representsinsertion force or pull-out force (kgf) and the axis of abscissarepresents time (s). Also, the numbers 0 through 9 in the waveformcorrespond to the positions 0 through 9 shown in FIG. 16, respectively.

The computer 33 averages some forces before the seal 10 makes contactwith the shaft 14 (average force 9: the following maximum value orminimum value represents a value obtained by subtracting average force 9from a measured value). Now, the insertion force after a fixed time(counted fixed time A) has elapsed from the position 1 at which theinsertion operation is started by the contact of the seal 10 with theshaft 14 is taken to be insertion force A, and the pull-out force aftera fixed time (counted fixed time B) has elapsed from the start position3 of the pull-out operation is taken to be pull-out force B. Theinsertion forces after fixed times C, E, and G have elapsed from thestart position of the insertion operation thereafter are taken to beinsertion forces C, E, and G, respectively. The insertion forces afterfixed times D and F have elapsed from the start position of theinsertion operation are taken to be insertion forces D and F,respectively.

(1) Case of judging with insertion force or pull-out force alone:

When the absolute value of the pull-out force (pull-out force F) at thetime of the last pull-out operation is greater than a predeterminedvalue, it is judged that the turnover of the lip 10A has not beencorrected Also, when the insertion force (insertion force G) at the timeof the last insertion operation is greater than a predetermined value,it is judged that the lip 10A has been turned over.

(2) Case of judging with a ratio between insertion force and pull-outforce:

A ratio between the absolute values of the insertion force (insertionforce A) obtained at the time of the first insertion and the pull-outforce (pull-out force F) obtained at the time of the last pull-outoperation is computed. When the ratio between the absolutes is less thana predetermined value, it is judged that the turnover of the lip 10A hasnot been corrected. Also, a ratio between the insertion force (insertionforce A) obtained at the time of the first insertion and the insertionforce (insertion force G) obtained at the time of the last insertion iscomputed. When this ratio is less than a predetermined value, it isjudged that the lip 10A has been turned over.

In the aforementioned (1) and (2), when it is judged that the lip 10Ahas been turned over, the computer 33 sends the robot controller 34 analarm signal indicating that the lip 10A has been turned over, stopsmovement of the robot 13, and produces alarm sound.

(Third Turnover Judgment Method)

In FIG. 18, while the turnover judgment for the lip 10A has beenperformed with the insertion force or pull-out force after a fixed time,only a single insertion force and only a single pull-out force areemployed. More specifically, the turnover judgment has been performed byemploying only a single insertion force A at the time of the firstinsertion, only a single pull-out force F at the time of the lastpull-out operation, and only a single pull-out force G at the lastpull-out operation. However, if the turnover judgment is performed withonly a single insertion force or pull-out force, there will be thepossibility that even small noise will cause an error in the turnoverjudgment. In order to prevent this, the turnover judgment is performedas shown in FIG. 19.

In the figure, as with FIG. 17 or 18, the axis of ordinate representsinsertion force or pull-out force (kgf) and the axis of abscissarepresents time (s). In this turnover judgment method, after a fixedtime (counted time A) has elapsed from the position 1 at which aninsertion operation is started by the contact of the seal 10 with theshaft 14, insertion force is measured over a predetermined time (countedtime A′). Also, after a fixed time (counted time B) has elapsed from thestart position 3 of the pull-out operation, pull-out force is measuredover a predetermined time (counted time B′). In the same way, after afixed time C from the start position of the insertion operation,insertion force is measured over counted time C′. After a fixed time Efrom the start position of the insertion operation, insertion force ismeasured over counted time E′. After a fixed time G from the startposition of the insertion operation, insertion force is measured overcounted time G′. After a fixed time D from the start position of thepull-out operation, pull-out force is measured over counted time D′.Finally, after a fixed time F from the start position of the pull-outoperation, pull-out force is measured over counted time F′.

Then, an average value (average insertion force A′) of insertion forcesmeasured a plurality of times over counted time A′ is computed.Similarly, average values (average pull-out forces B′, D′, and F′) ofpull-out forces measured a plurality of times over counted times B′, D′,and F′ are computed and average values (average insertion forces C′, E′,and D′) of insertion forces measured a plurality of times over countedtimes C′, E′, and G′ are computed.

(1) Case of judging with insertion force or pull-out force alone:

When the absolute value of the average value (average pull-out force F′)of the pull-out forces at the time of the last pull-out operation isgreater than a predetermined value, it is judged that the turnover ofthe lip 10A has not been corrected. Also, when the average value(average insertion force G′) of the insertion forces at the time of thelast insertion is greater than a predetermined value, it is judged thatthe lip 10A has been turned over.

(2) Case of judging with a ratio between insertion force and pull-outforce:

A ratio between the absolute values of the average value (averageinsertion force A′) of insertion forces obtained at the time of thefirst insertion and the average value (average pull-out force F′) of thepull-out forces obtained at the time of the last pull-out operation iscomputed. When the ratio between the absolutes is less than apredetermined value, it is judged that the turnover of the lip 10A hasnot been corrected. Also, a ratio between the absolute values of theaverage value (average insertion force A′) of insertion forces obtainedat the time of the first insertion and the average value (averageinsertion force G′) of the insertion forces obtained at the time of thelast pull-out operation is computed. When this ratio is less than apredetermined value, it is judged that the lip 10A has been turned over.

In the aforementioned (1) and (2), when it is judged that the lip 10Ahas been turned over, the computer 33 sends the robot controller 34 analarm signal indicating that the lip 10A has been turned over, stopsmovement of the robot 13, and produces alarm sound.

(Fourth Turnover Judgment Method)

In the case where the seal 10 is rotated and inserted onto the shaft 14,the turnover of the lip 10A can be judged based on the insertion forcedetected when the insertion operation is performed.

FIG. 20 shows the fluctuation in the insertion force detected when theseal 10 is inserted onto the shaft 14. The computer 33 computes averageforce by averaging some forces before the seal 10 makes contact with theshaft 14, that is, when the seal 10 is at position (1) (average force(a): the following insertion force represents a value obtained bysubtracting average force (a) from a measured value). In the figure,reference numeral (2) represents an instantaneous position at which theseal 10 is inserted on the shaft 14. Reference numeral (3) represents aposition at which the seal 10 is rotated and inserted, and (4)represents a position at which the rotation of the seal 10 is stoppedand the insertion is completed. Between positions (3) and (4), the seal10 is rotated and inserted.

The detection of insertion force is performed in the rotation insertionrange between positions (3) and (4), but it is usually performed in arange (5) where the waveform of insertion force is stabilized. Wheninsertion force (b) detected is greater than a predetermined value, itis judged that the lip 10A has been turned over. In this case, in thecase where the data of the detected insertion force is only one, whennoise gets into the data, there is the possibility that the turnoverjudgment will be inaccurately performed. For this reason, insertionforce preferably is detected a plurality of times in the aforementionedrange (5) to compute an average value, and based on the average value,the turnover of the lip 10A is judged.

In FIG. 20, while the seal 10 has been rotated, the shaft 14 may berotated instead of rotating the seal 10. In addition, both the seal 10and the shaft 14 may be rotated. In the case where both of them arerotated, they are preferable to be rotated in directions opposite toeach other.

(Fifth Turnover Judgment Method)

When the seal 10 is inserted onto the shaft 14, fluctuation occurs ininsertion time, depending on a work piece. For this reason, there arecases where fluctuation will occur in the time A counted from position1, shown in FIGS. 18 and 19.

Therefore, in a fifth turnover judgment method according to the presentinvention, insertion force is measured during a first operation in whichthe seal 10 is inserted once on the shaft 14, and the waveform of theinsertion force is detected from the measurement result. The insertionforce waveform during the first operation shows a remarkable transientwaveform whose amplitude rises sharply as shown in FIG. 18 or 19,because the lip 10A of the seal 10 makes contact with the point end ofthe shaft 14 when the seal 10 moves from position 0 to position 1. Inthe insertion operation, if the seal 10 moves further from position 1 toposition 2, the lip 10A of the seal 10 will contact the stepped portion(inclined surface 14D) between the D-cutout portion 14C and the axialportion 14B. Likewise, the amplitude of the waveform rises sharply and asimilar transient waveform is observed. At this stage, a portion of thelip 10A is turned over. If the seal 10 reaches position 3, the insertionoperation of the seal 10 will be shifted to the pull-out operation ofthe seal 10 and therefore the insertion force waveform will be changedfrom a positive sign to a negative sign. When the seal 10 reachesposition 3, the nearly entire circumference of the lip 10A is turnedover.

The insertion force waveform usually shows the aforementioned behavior.Therefore, if the transient state of the insertion force waveform isobserved, the relative position between the shaft 14 and the seal 10 canbe estimated. At the estimated position, insertion force is detected. Ifthe value of the detection result is greater than a predetermined value,it can be judged that the lip 10A has been turned over. If alone in thisway, an error of measurement will be reduced for each work piece and anaccurate judgment of turnover can be performed.

The predetermined value, which is compared when judging insertion force,is determined based on data obtained by experiment. However, there isthe possibility that insertion force will occur outside a range of dataobtained during experiment, and in such a case, judgment will not beable to be guaranteed.

Hence, in the fifth turnover judgment method of the present invention,the insertion force at the position estimated from the insertion forcewaveform is used in a preliminary judgment of whether or not theturnover judgment of the lip portion is possible. If done in this way,the insertion force outside a range of data obtained during experimentwill be excluded from judgment and therefore turnover judgment accuracycan be further enhanced.

A flowchart of the fifth turnover judgment method is shown in FIG. 21.In the figure, steps 100 and 101 are performed by the fifth turnoverjudgment method and steps 102 and 103 are performed by theaforementioned first, second, or third turnover judgment method.

Incidentally, when the seal 10 is inserted onto the shaft 14, the lip10A is easily turned over even at the end of the shaft 14. To preventthis, as shown in FIG. 14, a taper portion 14E is formed on the end ofthe shaft 14 and the diameter d1 of the end face of the taper portion14E is formed so as to be smaller than the inner diameter d2 (FIG. 16)of the lip 10A of the seal 10. If constructed like this, the turnover ofthe lip 10A can be prevented, even if the lip 10A struck on the taperportion 14E, when inserting the seal 10 onto the shaft 14.

In order to prevent turnover from occurring in the lip 10A when the seal10 moves along the D-cutout portion 14C (i.e., position 1 of FIG. 16 toposition 2), the relation between the length d3 in the diameterdirection of the D-cutout portion 14C and the inner diameter d2 of thelip 10A of the seal 10 needs to be set as follows:

d3≦d2

When the lip 10A has been turned over, the turnover is returned to theoriginal state by the following returning method. The returning methodwill hereinafter be described.

(Method utilizing a D-cutout portion)

In the case where the shaft 14 is provided with the D-cutout portion14C, if the seal 10 is positioned within the D-cutout portion 14C, asshown in FIG. 22, the turnover of the lip 10A will return to theoriginal state by the stepped portion between the axial portion 14B andthe D-cutout portion 14C. In the figure, the portion where the turnoverof the lip 10A has returned is represented by 10A′ and the portion wherethe turnover has not returned is represented by 10A″.

In the D-cutout portion 14C, the length d3 in the diameter direction isshorter than the inner diameter d2 of the lip 10A, as previouslydescribed. The shaft 14 formed with the D-cutout portion 14C is shown inFIG. 23. FIG. 23(A) is a front view of the shaft 14 and FIG. 23(B) is across sectional view of the D-cutout portion 14 taken substantiallyalong line B—B of FIG. 23(A).

As shown in FIG. 22, in the state where the seal 10 is positioned withinthe D-cutout portion 14C, if the shaft 14 is rotated, the turnover ofthe lip 10A will be returned by the rotation of the D-cutout portion14C, and the turnover of the entire circumference will be returned ifthe shaft 14 makes about one revolution. To reliably return the turnoverof the lip 10A, the rotational quantity of the shaft 14 is preferable tobe one revolution or more. The rotation of the shaft 14 may be performedin the state where the seal 10 does not move along the shaft 14 or whilemoving the seal 10 in the insertion direction or in the pull-outdirection. After the turnover of the lip 10A has returned, the seal 10is moved to a predetermined position on the axial portion 14B. Withthis, the seal 10 can be inserted on the shaft 14 in the state wherethere is no turnover over the entire circumference of the shaft 14.

When the seal 10 in which its turnover has returned is moved from theD-cutout portion 14C to the axial portion 14B, if there is a steppedportion between the D-cutout portion 14C and the axial portion 14B,there is the possibility that the lip 10A will strike on this steppedportion and will be turned over again. In this case, if the shaft 14 isrotated during movement, the lip 10A can be prevented from being turnedover again. As shown in FIGS. 14 through 16, if an inclined surface 14Dis formed on the stepped portion between the axial portion 14B and theD-cutout portion 14C, the lip 10A can be prevented from being caught onthe stepped portion and being turned over when inserting the seal 10from the D-cutout portion 14C onto the axial portion 14B.

To return the turnover of the lip 10A, cutout portions, such as thoseshown in FIGS. 24 through 28, may also be formed on one end portion ofthe shaft 14. In the figures, (A) is a front view of the shaft 14 and(B) is a cross sectional view of the shaft 14 taken at the same positionas FIG. 23. The cut surface of the D-cutout portion 14C shown in FIG. 23is flat in shape. In FIG. 24 the cut surface forms a cylinder-shapedconvex surface. In FIG. 25 the cut surface forms a cylinder-shapedconcave surface. In FIG. 26 a groove is formed in the cut surface. InFIG. 27 flat cut surfaces are formed on both sides of the shaft 14. InFIG. 28 cylinder-shaped convex surfaces (which form an ellipse in crosssection) are formed on both sides of the shaft 14.

In FIGS. 22 through 28, although the D-cutout portion 14C has beenprovided in one end portion of the shaft 14, a D-cutout portion 14C′ maybe provided in an intermediate portion of the shaft 14, as shown in FIG.29. In this case, after the seal 10 has been positioned within theD-cutout portion 14C′, the shaft 14 is rotated to return the turnover ofthe lip 10A of the seal 10. Furthermore, the cross sectionalconfiguration of the D-cutout portion 14C′ may be formed as shown inFIGS. 24 through 28.

In FIG. 29 the area of the D-cutout portion 14C′ of the shaft 14 istaken to be R1. The area extending rearward from the area R1 is taken tobe R2, and the area extending forward from the area R2 is taken to beR3. The lip 10A of the seal 10 can be returned by rotating the shaft 14when the seal 10 is in the area R1. When the seal 10 in which theturnover of the lip 10A has returned is then inserted toward the areaR2, there is the possibility that the lip 10A will be turned again atthe boundary between the areas R1 and R2, as in the case of FIG. 22,because there is the stepped portion between the areas R1 and R2. Evenin this case, the lip 10A can be prevented from being turned over again,by rotating the shaft 10 during movement.

In FIGS. 22 and 29, although the shaft 14 alone has been rotated whenthe seal 10 is within the D-cutout portion 14C or 14C′, the seal 10alone may be rotated without rotating the shaft 14. Furthermore, boththe shaft 14 and the seal 10 may be rotated.

In order to rotate the shaft 14 alone, the aforementioned seal insertingapparatus shown in FIG. 1 or 2 is employed. When only the seal 10 isrotated, the aforementioned seal inserting apparatus shown in FIG. 3 isemployed. In the case where the shaft 14 and the seal 10 are bothrotated, the aforementioned seal inserting apparatus shown in FIG. 4 isemployed. Note that when both the shaft 14 and the seal 10 are rotated,the rotational directions are preferably opposite to each other

(Method utilizing a circumferential groove)

FIG. 30 shows a turnover returning method which utilizes acircumferential groove 14F provided in the exterior surface of the shaft14. The groove width w1 of the circumferential groove 14F is greaterthan the protruded height w2 of the lip 10A, and the outer diameter ofthe bottom portion of the circumferential groove 14F is less than theinner diameter d2 of the lip 10A.

In the case where the circumferential groove 14F is provided in theaforementioned way, if the seal 10 is positioned within thecircumferential groove 14F, the turnover of the lip 10A will return tothe original state at the place of the circumferential groove 14F. Ifthe turnover of the lip 10A does not return to the original state byplacing the lip 10A within the circumferential groove 14F, the shaft 14and the seal 10 will be rotated in directions opposite to each other inorder to more reliably return the turnover.

In the circumferential groove 14F, although the cross sectionalconfiguration of the shaft 14 is circular, it may be any shape if thecircumferential groove 14F has a depth enough to return the turnover ofthe lip 10A. For example, the cross sectional configuration may beelliptic.

(Method utilizing a seal attaching member)

FIG. 31 shows how the turnover of the seal 10 is returned with a sealattaching member 60 connected to the end face of the shaft 14 when theshaft 14 is not provided with a D-cutout portion or a circumferentialgroove. The seal attaching member 60 is provided with a D-cutout portion60A at one end thereof. The seal attaching member 60 is coupled to theshaft 14 so that their axes are axially aligned with each other. Whenthe lip 10A is turned over, the seal 10 is positioned on the D-cutoutportion 60A and the seal attaching member 60 and the seal 10 are rotatedin opposite directions, thereby returning the turnover of the lip 10A.Preferably, the seal attaching member 60 and the seal 10 are rotated onerevolution or more.

In the seal attaching member 60, as shown in FIG. 32, the D-cutoutportion 60A is formed so that the length d5 in the diameter directionthereof is less than the inner diameter d2 of the lip 10A.

As a method of coupling the seal attaching member 60 and the shaft 14together, there are methods such as those shown in FIGS. 33(A) through33(D). In FIG. 33(A) the seal attaching member 60 is provided with asquare protrusion 60B at the end face thereof. The square protrusion 60Bis fitted into a square hole 14G formed in the end face of the shaft 14to connect the seal attaching member 60 and the seal 14 together. InFIG. 33(B) the seal attaching member 60 is provided with a cylindricalprotrusion 60C at the end face thereof. The cylindrical protrusion 60Cis fitted into a cylindrical hole 14H formed in the end face of theshaft 14 to connect the seal attaching member 60 and the seal 14together.

In the case of FIG. 33(A), the square protrusion 60B and the square hole14G having a square shape are fitted together. Therefore, if the shaft14 is rotated, the rotational force can be reliably transmitted to theseal attaching member 60. However, in the case of FIG. 33(B), since thecylindrical protrusion 60C and the cylindrical hole 14H having acylindrical shape are fitted together, slip will easily come to occurbetween the cylindrical protrusion 60C and the cylindrical hole 14H andthere is the fear that the rotational force of the shaft 14 cannot betransmitted sufficiently to the seal attaching member 60. In such acase, if the shaft 14, for example, is constituted with magneticmaterial such as iron and if a magnet 60D is attached to the end portionof the seal attaching member 60, as shown in FIG. 33(C), the occurrenceof slip can be suppressed between the shaft 14 and the seal attachingmember 60. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 33(D), the magnet 60D alone maybe attached to the end portion of the seal attaching member 60. Thismethod is suitable to the case where the shaft 14 and the end face ofthe seal attaching member 60 cannot be processed.

If the seal attaching member 60 has been constructed with magneticmaterial such as iron, a magnet can be previously attached to the endportion of the shaft 14. Also, magnets may be previously attached to theend portions of the shaft 14 and the seal attaching member 60,respectively.

One end portion of the seal attaching member 60 can be provided with acutout portion having a shape such as those shown in FIGS. 34 through 38instead of the D-cutout portion 14C. In the figures, (A) is a front viewof the seal attaching member 60 and (B) is a cross sectional view of theseal attaching member 60 at the cutout portion. Although the cut surfaceof the D-cutout portion 60A is flat as shown in FIG. 33, the cut surfacein FIG. 34 forms a cylinder-shaped convex surface. In FIG. 35 the cutsurface is a cylinder-shaped concave surface. In FIG. 36 a groove isformed in the cut surface. In FIG. 37 flat cut surfaces are formed onboth sides of the seal attaching member 60. In FIG. 38 cylinder-shapedconvex surfaces (which form an ellipse in cross section) are formed onboth sides of the seal attaching member 60.

The D-cutout portion or each of the cutout portions shown in FIGS. 34through 38 can also be provided in a longitudinal intermediate portionof the seal attaching member 60.

When the seal 10 in which its turnover has returned is moved from theseal attaching member 60 to the axial portion 14B, if there is a steppedportion between the cylindrical portion of the seal attaching member 60(near the shaft 14) and the cutout portion (e.g., D-cutout portion 60A),there is the fear that the lip 10A will be caught on this steppedportion and will be turned over again. In this case, if the sealattaching member 60 and the shaft 14 are rotated in opposite directionsduring movement of the shaft 14, the lip 10A can be prevented from beingturned over again. As shown in FIG. 39, if an inclined surface 14D isformed on the stepped portion between the cylindrical portion 60E of theseal attaching member 60 and the D-cutout portion 60F, the lip 10A canbe prevented from being caught on the stepped portion and being turnedover.

Even when a seal attaching member 61 such as that shown in FIG. 40 isemployed, the turnover of the seal 10 can be returned. The sealattaching member 61 is provided with a small-diameter portion 61A. Ifthe small-diameter portion 61A is connected to the end face of the shaft14, a similar circumferential groove as the case of FIG. 30 will beformed This circumferential groove can return the turnover of the seal10. The protrusion quantity w3 of the small-diameter portion 61A isgreater than the lip height w2 of the lip 10A, and the outer diameter d6of the small-diameter portion 61A is less than the inner diameter d2 ofthe lip 10A. The small-diameter portion 61A can be provided not only inthe point end portion of the seal attaching member 61 but also in thelongitudinal intermediate portion.

While the present invention has been described with reference topreferred embodiments thereof, the invention is not to be limited to thedetails given herein, but may be modified within the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for judging whether or not a front endof an insertion member has been deformed when said insertion member isinserted onto a shaft, said method comprising the steps of: moving saidinsertion member to a first position on said shaft; moving the insertionmember to a second position on the shaft at a first predeterminedvelocity; moving the insertion member back to the first position at asecond predetermined velocity; moving the insertion member back to thesecond position at a third predetermined velocity; detecting aninsertion force of said insertion member based on a relation between thefirst, second and third predetermined velocities; and judging adeformation of said front end, based on a result of the detection,wherein the insertion member includes an opening formed in asubstantially same shape as an outer periphery of the shaft and thefront end of the insertion member contacts the shaft and comprises ashape of a thin blade continuous in a circumferential direction of theshaft.
 2. A method for judging whether or not a front end of aninsertion member has been deformed when said insertion member isinserted onto a shaft, [said insertion member including an openingformed in a substantially same shape as an outer periphery of said shaftand contacting to said shaft, said front end, which contacts to saidshaft, being in a shape of a thin blade continuous in a circumferentialdirection of said shaft,] said method comprising the steps of:performing once or a plurality of times a first operation in which saidinsertion member is inserted once onto said shaft at a firstpredetermined position, a second operation in which said insertionmember is pulled out from said first predetermined position to a secondpredetermined position at which said insertion member does not slip outof said shaft, and a third operation in which said insertion member isagain inserted on said shaft from said second predetermined position;detecting an insertion force applied during said first operation; andjudging a deformation of said front end, based on a result of thedetection, wherein the insertion member includes an opening formed in asubstantially same shape as an outer periphery of the shaft, and thefront end of the insertion member contacts the shaft and comprises ashape of a thin blade continuous in a circumferential direction of theshaft.
 3. A method for judging whether or not a front end of aninsertion member has been deformed when said insertion member isinserted into a shaft, [said insertion member including an openingformed in a substantially same shape as an outer periphery of said shaftand contacting to said shaft, and said front end, which contacts to saidshaft, being in a shape of a thin blade continuous in a circumferentialdirection of said shaft,] said method comprising the steps of:performing once or a plurality of times a first operation in which saidinsertion member is inserted once onto said shaft at a firstpredetermined position, a second operation in which said insertionmember is pulled out from said first predetermined position to a secondpredetermined position at which said insertion member does not slip outof said shaft, and a third operation in which said insertion member isagain inserted on said shaft from said second predetermined position;detecting a pull-out force applied during said second operation; andjudging a deformation of said front end, based on a result of thedetection, wherein the insertion member includes an opening formed in asubstantially same shape as an outer periphery of the shaft, and thefront end of the insertion member contacts the shaft and comprises ashape of a thin blade continuous in a circumferential direction of theshaft.
 4. A method for judging whether or not a front end of aninsertion member has been deformed when said insertion member isinserted onto a shaft, [said insertion member including an openingformed in a substantially same shape as an outer periphery of said shaftand contacting to said shaft, and said front end, which contacts to saidshaft, being in a shape of a thin blade continuous in a circumferentialdirection of said shaft,] said method comprising the steps of:performing once or a plurality of times a first operation in which saidinsertion member is inserted once onto said shaft at a firstpredetermined position, a second operation in which said insertionmember is pulled out from said first predetermined position to a secondpredetermined position at which said insertion member does not slip outof said shaft, and a third operation in which said insertion member isagain inserted on said shaft from said second predetermined position;detecting an insertion force applied during said third operation; andjudging a deformation of said front end, based on a result of thedetection, wherein the insertion member includes an opening formed in asubstantially same shape as an outer periphery of the shaft, and thefront end of the insertion member contacts the shaft and comprises ashape of a thin blade continuous in a circumferential direction of theshaft.
 5. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein if a value of thedetection result is greater than a predetermined value, it is judgedthat said front end has been deformed.
 6. A method for judging whetheror not a front end of an insertion member has been deformed when saidinsertion member is inserted onto a shaft, said method comprising thesteps of: performing once or a plurality of times a first operation inwhich said insertion member is inserted once onto said shaft at a firstpredetermined position, a second operation in which said insertionmember is pulled out from said first predetermined position to a secondpredetermined position at which said insertion member does not slip outof said shaft, and a third operation in which said insertion member isagain inserted on said shaft from said second predetermined position;detecting an insertion force applied during said first operation and apull-out force applied during said second operation; computing a ratiobetween the detected insertion force and the detected pull-out force;and judging a deformation of said front end, based on a result of thedetection, wherein the insertion member includes an opening formed in asubstantially same shape as an outer periphery of the shaft and thefront end of the insertion member contacts the shaft and comprises ashape of a thin blade continuous in a circumferential direction of theshaft.
 7. A method for judging whether or not a front end of aninsertion member has been deformed when said insertion member isinserted onto a shaft, said method comprising the steps of: performingonce or a plurality of times a first operation in which said insertionmember is inserted once onto said shaft at a first predeterminedposition, a second operation in which said insertion member is pulledout from said first predetermined position to a second predeterminedposition at which said insertion member does not slip out of said shaft,and a third operation in which said insertion member is again insertedon said shaft from said second predetermined position; detecting aninsertion force applied during said first operation and an insertionforce applied during said third operation; computing a ratio between thedetected two insertion forces; and judging a deformation of said frontend, based on computed ratio, wherein the insertion member includes anopening formed in a substantially same shape as an outer periphery ofthe shaft and the front end of the insertion member contacts the shaftand comprises a shape of a thin blade continuous in a circumferentialdirection of the shaft.
 8. The method as set forth in claim 6, whereinif a value of said computed ratio is greater than a predetermined value,it is judged that said front end has been deformed.
 9. A method forjudging whether or not a front end of an insertion member has beendeformed when said insertion member is inserted onto a shaft, saidmethod comprising the steps of: performing once or a plurality of timesa first operation in which said insertion member is inserted once ontosaid shaft at a first predetermined position, a second operation inwhich said insertion member is pulled out from said first predeterminedposition to a second predetermined position at which said insertionmember does not slip out of said shaft, and a third operation in whichsaid insertion member is again inserted on said shaft from said secondpredetermined position; detecting a pull-out force applied during saidsecond operation after a fixed time has elapsed since a start of saidsecond operation; and judging a deformation of said front end, based ona result of the detection, wherein the insertion member includes anopening formed in a substantially same shape as an outer periphery ofthe shaft and the front end of the insertion member contacts the shaftand comprises a shape of a thin blade continuous in a circumferentialdirection of the shaft.
 10. A method for judging whether or not a frontend of an insertion member has been deformed when said insertion memberis inserted onto a shaft, said method comprising the steps of:performing once or a plurality of times a first operation in which saidinsertion member is inserted once onto said shaft at a firstpredetermined position, a second operation in which said insertionmember is pulled out from said first predetermined position to a secondpredetermined position at which said insertion member does not slip outof said shaft, and a third operation in which said insertion member isagain inserted on said shaft from said second predetermined position;detecting an insertion force applied during said third operation after afixed time has elapsed since a start of said third operation; andjudging a deformation of said front end, based on a result of thedetection, wherein the insertion member includes an opening formed in asubstantially same shape as an outer periphery of the shaft, and thefront end of the insertion member contacts the shaft and comprises ashape of a thin blade continuous in a circumferential direction of theshaft.
 11. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein if a value of thedetection result is greater than a predetermined value, it is judgedthat said front end has been deformed.
 12. A method for judging whetheror not a front end of an insertion member has been deformed when saidinsertion member is inserted onto a shaft, said method comprising thesteps of: performing once or a plurality of times a first operation inwhich said insertion member is inserted once onto said shaft at a firstpredetermined position, a second operation in which said insertionmember is pulled out from said first predetermined position to a secondpredetermined position at which said insertion member does not slip outof said shaft, and a third operation in which said insertion member isagain inserted on said shaft from said second predetermined position;detecting an insertion force applied during said first operation after afixed time has elapsed since a start of said first operation and alsodetecting a pull-out force applied during said second operation after afixed time has elapsed since a start of said second operation; computinga ratio between the detected insertion force and the detected pull-outforce; and judging a deformation of said front end, based on a result ofthe computation, wherein the insertion member includes an opening formedin a substantially same shape as an outer periphery of the shaft and thefront end of the insertion member contacts the shaft and comprises ashape of a thin blade continuous in a circumferential direction of theshaft.
 13. A method for judging whether or not a front end of aninsertion member has been deformed when said insertion member isinserted onto a shaft, said method comprising the steps of: performingonce or a plurality of times a first operation in which said insertionmember is inserted once onto said shaft at a first predeterminedposition, a second operation in which said insertion member is pulledout from said first predetermined position to a second predeterminedposition at which said insertion member does not slip out of said shaft,and a third operation in which said insertion member is again insertedon said shaft from said second predetermined position; detecting aninsertion force applied during said first operation after a fixed timehas elapsed since a start of said first operation and also detecting aninsertion force applied during said third operation after a fixed timehas elapsed since a start of said third operation; computing a ratiobetween the detected two insertion forces; and judging a deformation ofsaid front end, based on a result of the computation, wherein theinsertion member includes an opening formed in a substantially sameshape as an outer periphery of the shaft, and the front end of theinsertion member contacts the shaft and comprises a shape of a thinblade continuous in a circumferential direction of the shaft.
 14. Themethod as set forth in claim 12, wherein if a value of said computedratio is less than a predetermined value, it is judged that said frontend has been deformed.
 15. A method for judging whether or not a frontend of an insertion member has been deformed when said insertion memberis inserted onto a shaft, said method comprising the steps of:performing once or a plurality of times a first operation in which saidinsertion member is inserted once onto said shaft at a firstpredetermined position, a second operation in which said insertionmember is pulled out from said first predetermined position to a secondpredetermined position at which said insertion member does not slip outof said shaft, and a third operation in which said insertion member isagain inserted on said shaft from said second predetermined position;detecting an insertion force applied during said first operation over apredetermined time after a fixed time has elapsed since a start of saidfirst operation; computing an average value of results of the detection;and judging a deformation of said front end, based on said averagevalue, wherein the insertion member includes an opening formed in asubstantially same shape as an outer periphery of the shaft, and thefront end of the insertion member contacts the shaft and comprises ashape of a thin blade continuous in a circumferential direction of theshaft.
 16. A method for judging whether or not a front end of aninsertion member has been deformed or not when said insertion member isinserted onto a shaft, said method comprising the steps of: performingonce or a plurality of times a first operation in which said insertionmember is inserted once onto said shaft at a first predeterminedposition, a second operation in which said insertion member is pulledout from said first predetermined position to a second predeterminedposition at which said insertion member does not slip out of said shaft,and a third operation in which said insertion member is again insertedon said shaft from said second predetermined position; detecting apull-out force applied during said second operation over a predeterminedtime after a fixed time has elapsed since a start of said secondoperation; computing an average value of results of the detection; andjudging a deformation of said front end, based on said average value,wherein the insertion member includes an opening formed in asubstantially same shape as an outer periphery of the shaft, and thefront end of the insertion member contacts the shaft and comprises ashape of a thin blade continuous in a circumferential direction of theshaft.
 17. A method for judging whether or not a front end of aninsertion member has been deformed or not when said insertion member isinserted onto a shaft, said method comprising the steps of: performingonce or a plurality of times a first operation in which said insertionmember is inserted once onto said shaft at a first predeterminedposition, a second operation in which said insertion member is pulledout from said first predetermined position to a second predeterminedposition at which said insertion member does not slip out of said shaft,and a third operation in which said insertion member is again insertedon said shaft from said second predetermined position; detecting aninsertion force applied during said third operation over a predeterminedtime after a fixed time has elapsed since a start of said thirdoperation; computing an average value of results of the detection; andjudging a deformation of said front end, based on said average value,wherein the insertion member includes an opening formed in asubstantially same shape as an outer periphery of the shaft, and thefront end of the insertion member contacts the shaft and comprises ashape of a thin blade continuous in a circumferential direction of theshaft.
 18. The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein if the computedaverage value is greater than a predetermined value, it is judged thatsaid front end has been deformed.
 19. A method for judging whether ornot a front end of an insertion member has been deformed when saidinsertion member is inserted onto a shaft, comprising the steps of:performing once or a plurality of times a first operation in which saidinsertion member is inserted once onto said shaft at a firstpredetermined position, a second operation in which said insertionmember is pulled out from said first predetermined position to a secondpredetermined position at which said insertion member does not slip outof said shaft, and a third operation in which said insertion member isagain inserted on said shaft from said second predetermined position;detecting an insertion force applied during said first operation over apredetermined time after a fixed time has elapsed since a start of saidfirst operation and also computing an average value of results of thedetection; detecting a pull-out force applied during said secondoperation over a predetermined time after a fixed time has elapsed sincea start of said second operation and also computing an average value ofresults of the detection; computing a ratio between the detected twoaverage values; and judging a deformation of said front end, based on aresult of the result of the computation, wherein the insertion memberincludes an opening formed in a substantially same shape as an outerperiphery of the shaft, and the front end of the insertion membercontacts the shaft and comprises a shape of a thin blade continuous in acircumferential direction of the shaft.
 20. A method for judging whetheror not a front end of an insertion member has been deformed when saidinsertion member is inserted onto a shaft, said method comprising thesteps of: performing once or a plurality of times a first operation inwhich said insertion member is inserted once onto said shaft at a firstpredetermined position, a second operation in which said insertionmember is pulled out from said first predetermined position to a secondpredetermined position at which said insertion member does not slip outof said shaft, and a third operation in which said insertion member isagain inserted on said shaft from said second predetermined position;detecting an insertion force applied during said first operation over apredetermined time after a fixed time has elapsed since a start of saidfirst operation and also computing an average value of results of thedetection; detecting an insertion force applied during said thirdoperation over a predetermined time after a fixed time has elapsed sincea start of said third operation and also computing an average value ofresults of the detection; computing a ratio between the detected twoaverage values; and judging a deformation of said front end, based on aresult of the computation, wherein the insertion member includes anopening formed in a substantially same shape as an outer periphery ofthe shaft, and the front end of the insertion member contacts the shaftand comprises a shape of a thin blade continuous in a circumferentialdirection of the shaft.
 21. The method as set forth in claims 19,wherein if a value of the computed ratio is less than a predeterminedvalue, it is judged that said front end has been deformed.
 22. A methodfor judging whether or not a front end of an insertion member has beendeformed when said insertion member is inserted onto a shaft, saidmethod comprising the steps of: performing once or a plurality of timesa first operation in which said insertion member is inserted once ontosaid shaft at a first predetermined position, a second operation inwhich said insertion member is pulled out from said first predeterminedposition to a second predetermined position at which said insertionmember does not slip out of said shaft, and a third operation in whichsaid insertion member is again inserted on said shaft from said secondpredetermined position; sequentially measuring an insertion forceapplied during said first operation to detect an insertion forcewaveform; estimating a relative position between said shaft and saidinsertion member from a characteristic of the detected insertion forcewaveform; detecting an insertion force at an estimated position; andjudging a deformation of said front end, based on a result of thedetection, wherein the insertion member includes an opening formed in asubstantially same shape as an outer periphery of the shaft, and thefront end of the insertion member contacts the shaft and comprises ashape of a thin blade continuous in a circumferential direction of theshaft.
 23. The method as set forth in claim 22, wherein if a value ofthe detection result is greater than a predetermined value, it is judgedthat said front end has been deformed.
 24. The method as set forth inclaim 22, wherein the insertion force at the estimated position is usedin a preliminary judgement of whether or not the deformation judgementof said front end is possible.
 25. A method for judging whether or not afront end of an insertion member has been deformed when said insertionmember is inserted onto a shaft, said method comprising the steps of:inserting said insertion member onto said shaft, while relativelyrotating said insertion member and said shaft; detecting an insertionforce when said insertion member is inserted; and judging a deformationof said front end, based on a result of the detection, wherein thedetection of said insertion force is performed a plurality of times in apredetermined range of said shaft, when said insertion member isinserted, and an average value of the detection results is used to judgethe deformation of said front end, wherein the insertion member includesan opening formed in a substantially same shape as an outer periphery ofthe shaft, and the front end of the insertion member contacts the shaftand comprises a shape of a thin blade continuous in a circumferentialdirection of the shaft.
 26. The method as set forth in claim 25, whereinif a value of the detection result is greater than a predeterminedvalue, it is judged that said front and has been deformed.
 27. Anapparatus which inserts an insertion member onto a shaft whilerelatively rotating said insertion member and said shaft, the apparatuscomprising: detection means for detecting an insertion force when saidinsertion member is inserted; and judgement means for judging adeformation of a front end of said insertion member, based on a resultof the detection, wherein said detection means detects said insertionforce a plurality of times in a predetermined range of said shaft whensaid insertion member is inserted, and an average value of data of aplurality of insertion forces detected by said detection means isemployed in a judgement of deformation by said judgement means, whereinthe insertion member includes an opening formed in a substantially sameshape as an outer periphery of the shaft, and the front end of theinsertion member contacts the shaft and comprises a shape of a thinblade continuous in a circumferential direction of the shaft.
 28. Themethod as set forth in claim 25, wherein in a no-load state in whichmeans for inserting said insertion member onto said shaft whilerelatively rotating said insertion member and said shaft does notperform an insertion member inserting operation, no-load force appliedto said means is measured, and when detecting insertion force, saidno-load free is subtracted from said insertion force.
 29. An apparatuswhich inserts an insertion member onto a shaft by performing once or aplurality of times a first operation in which said insertion member isinserted once onto said shaft at a first predetermined position, asecond operation in which said insertion member is pulled out from saidfirst predetermined position to a second predetermined position at whichsaid insertion member does not slip out of said shaft, and a thirdoperation in which said insertion member is again inserted on said shaftfrom said second predetermined position, the apparatus comprising:detection means for detecting an insertion force applied during saidfirst operation; and judgement means for judging a deformation of afront end of said insertion member, based on a result of the detection,wherein the insertion member includes an opening formed in asubstantially same shape as an outer periphery of the shaft, and thefront end of the insertion member contacts the shaft and comprises ashape of a thin blade continuous in a circumferential direction of theshaft.
 30. An apparatus which inserts an insertion member onto a shaftby performing once or a plurality of times a first operation in whichsaid insertion member is inserted once onto said shaft at a firstpredetermined position, a second operation in which said insertionmember is pulled out from said first predetermined position to a secondpredetermined position at which said insertion member does not slip outof said shaft, and a third operation in which said insertion member isagain inserted on said shaft from said second predetermined position,the apparatus comprising: detection means for detecting a pull-out forceapplied during said second operation; and judgement means for judging adeformation of a front end of said insertion member, based on a resultof the detection, wherein the insertion member includes an openingformed in a substantially same shape as an outer periphery of the shaft,and the front end of the insertion member contacts the shaft andcomprises a shape of a thin blade continuous in a circumferentialdirection of the shaft.
 31. An apparatus which inserts an insertionmember onto a shaft by performing once or a plurality of times a firstoperation in which said insertion member is inserted once onto saidshaft at a first predetermined position, a second operation in whichsaid insertion member is pulled out from said first predeterminedposition to a second predetermined position at which said insertionmember does not slip out of said shaft, and a third operation in whichsaid insertion member is again inserted on said shaft from said secondpredetermined position, the apparatus comprising: detection means fordetecting an insertion force applied during said first operation; andjudgement means for judging a deformation of a front end of saidinsertion member, based on a result of the detection, wherein theinsertion member includes an opening formed in a substantially sameshape as an outer periphery of the shaft, and the front end of theinsertion member contacts the shaft and comprises a shape of a thinblade continuous in a circumferential direction of the shaft.
 32. Theapparatus as set forth in claim 29, wherein said judgement means, if avalue of the detection result is greater than a predetermined value,judges that said front end has been deformed.
 33. An apparatus whichinserts an insertion member onto a shaft by performing once or aplurality of times a first operation in which said insertion member isinserted once onto said shaft at a first predetermined position, asecond operation in which said insertion member is pulled out from saidfirst predetermined position to a second predetermined position at whichsaid insertion member does not slip out of said shaft, and a thirdoperation in which said insertion member is again inserted on said shaftfrom said second predetermined position, the apparatus comprising:detection means for detecting an insertion force applied during saidfirst operation and a pull-out force applied during said secondoperation; ratio computation means for computing a ratio between thedetected insertion force and the detected pull-out force; and judgementmeans for judging a deformation of a front end of said insertion member,based on a result of the computation, wherein the insertion memberincludes an opening formed in a substantially same shape as an outerperiphery of the shaft, and the front end of the insertion membercontacts the shaft and comprises a shape of a thin blade continuous in acircumferential direction of the shaft.
 34. An apparatus which insertsan insertion member onto a shaft by performing once or a plurality oftimes a first operation in which said insertion member is inserted onceonto said shaft at a first predetermined position, a second operation inwhich said insertion member is pulled out from said first predeterminedposition to a second predetermined position at which said insertionmember does not slip out of said shaft, and a third operation in whichsaid insertion member is again inserted on said shaft from said secondpredetermined position, the apparatus comprising: detection means fordetecting an insertion force applied during said first operation and aninsertion force applied during said third operation; ratio computationmeans for computing a ratio between the detected two insertion forces;and judgement means for judging a deformation of a front end of saidinsertion member, based on a result of the computation, wherein theinsertion member includes an opening formed in a substantially sameshape as an outer periphery of the shaft, and the front end of theinsertion member contacts the shaft and comprises a shape of a thinblade continuous in a circumferential direction of the shaft.
 35. Theapparatus as set forth in claim 33, wherein said judgement means, if avalue of said ratio computed by said ratio computation means is greaterthan a predetermined value, judges that said front end has beendeformed.
 36. An apparatus which inserts an insertion member onto ashaft by performing once or a plurality of times a first operation inwhich said insertion member is inserted once onto said shaft at a firstpredetermined position, a second operation in which said insertionmember is pulled out from said first predetermined position to a secondpredetermined position at which said insertion member does not slip outof said shaft, and a third operation in which said insertion member isagain inserted on said shaft from said second predetermined position,the apparatus comprising: detection means for detecting a pull-out forceapplied during said second operation after a fixed time has elapsedsince a start of said second operation; and judgement means for judginga deformation of a front end of said insertion member, based on a resultof the detection, wherein the insertion member includes an openingformed in a substantially same shape as an outer periphery of the shaft,and the front end of the insertion member contacts the shaft andcomprises a shape of a thin blade continuous in a circumferentialdirection of the shaft.
 37. An apparatus which inserts an insertionmember onto a shaft by performing once or a plurality of times a firstoperation in which said insertion member is inserted once onto saidshaft at a first predetermined position, a second operation in whichsaid insertion member is pulled out from said first predeterminedposition to a second predetermined position at which said insertionmember does not slip out of said shaft, and a third operation in whichsaid insertion member is again inserted on said shaft from said secondpredetermined position, the apparatus comprising: detection means fordetecting an insertion force applied during said third operation after afixed time has elapsed since a start of said third operation; andjudgement means for judging a deformation of a front end of saidinsertion member, based on a result of the detection, wherein theinsertion member includes an opening formed in a substantially sameshape as an outer periphery of the shaft, and the front end of theinsertion member contacts the shaft and comprises a shape of a thinblade continuous in a circumferential direction of the shaft.
 38. Theapparatus as set forth in claim 36, wherein said judgement means, if avalue of the detection result is greater than a predetermined value,judges that said front end has been deformed.
 39. An apparatus whichinserts an insertion member onto a shaft by performing once or aplurality of times a first operation in which said insertion member isinserted once onto said shaft at a first predetermined position, asecond operation in which said insertion member is pulled out from saidfirst predetermined position to a second predetermined position at whichsaid insertion member does not slip out of said shaft, and a thirdoperation in which said insertion member is again inserted on said shaftfrom said second predetermined position, the apparatus comprising:detection means for detecting an insertion force applied during saidfirst operation after a fixed time has elapsed since a start of saidfirst operation and also detecting a pull-out force applied during saidsecond operation after a fixed time has elapsed since a start of saidsecond operation; ratio computation means for computing a ratio betweenthe detected insertion force and the detected pull-out force; andjudgement means for judging a deformation of a front end of saidinsertion member, based on a result of the computation, wherein theinsertion member includes an opening formed in a substantially sameshape as an outer periphery of the shaft, and the front end of theinsertion member contacts the shaft and comprises a shape of a thinblade continuous in a circumferential direction of the shaft.
 40. Anapparatus which inserts an insertion member onto a shaft by performingonce or a plurality of times a first operation in which said insertionmember is inserted once onto said shaft at a first predeterminedposition, a second operation in which said insertion member is pulledout from said first predetermined position to a second predeterminedposition at which said insertion member does not slip out of said shaft,and a third operation in which said insertion member is again insertedon said shaft from said second predetermined position, the apparatuscomprising: detection means for detecting an insertion force appliedduring said first operation after a fixed time has elapsed since a startof said first operation and also detecting an insertion force appliedduring said third operation after a fixed time has elapsed since a startof said third operation; ratio computation means for computing a ratiobetween the detected two insertion forces; and judgement means forjudging a deformation of a front end of said insertion member, based ona result of the computation, wherein the insertion member includes anopening formed in a substantially same shape as an outer periphery ofthe shaft, and the front end of the insertion member contacts the shaftand comprises a shape of a thin blade continuous in a circumferentialdirection of the shaft.
 41. The apparatus as set forth in claim 39,wherein said judgement means, if a value of said ratio computed by saidratio computation means is greater than a predetermined value, judgesthat said front end has been deformed.
 42. An apparatus which inserts aninsertion member onto a shaft by performing once or a plurality of timesa first operation in which said insertion member is inserted once ontosaid shaft at a first predetermined position, a second operation inwhich said insertion member is pulled out from said first predeterminedposition to a second predetermined position at which said insertionmember does not slip out of said shaft, and a third operation in whichsaid insertion member is again inserted on said shaft from said secondpredetermined position, the apparatus comprising: detection means fordetecting an insertion force applied during said first operation over apredetermined time after a fixed time has elapsed since a start of saidfirst operation; average value computation means for computing anaverage value of results of the detection; and judgement means forjudging a deformation of a front end of said insertion member, based onsaid average value, wherein the insertion member includes an openingformed in a substantially same shape as an outer periphery of the shaft,and the front end of the insertion member contacts the shaft andcomprises a shape of a thin blade continuous in a circumferentialdirection of the shaft.
 43. An apparatus which inserts an insertionmember onto a shaft by performing once or a plurality of times a firstoperation in which said insertion member is inserted once onto saidshaft at a first predetermined position, a second operation in whichsaid insertion member is pulled out from said first predeterminedposition to a second predetermined position at which said insertionmember does not slip out of said shaft, and a third operation in whichsaid insertion member is again inserted on said shaft from said secondpredetermined position, the apparatus comprising: detection means fordetecting a pull-out force applied during said second operation over apredetermined time after a fixed time has elapsed since a start of saidsecond operation; average value computation means for computing anaverage value of results of the detection; and judgement means forjudging a deformation of a front end of said insertion member, based onsaid average value, wherein the insertion member includes an openingformed in a substantially same shape as an outer periphery of the shaft,and the front end of the insertion member contacts the shaft andcomprises a shape of a thin blade continuous in a circumferentialdirection of the shaft.
 44. An apparatus which inserts an insertionmember onto a shaft by performing once or a plurality of times a firstoperation in which said insertion member is inserted once onto saidshaft at a first predetermined position, a second operation in whichsaid insertion member is pulled out from said first predeterminedposition to a second predetermined position at which said insertionmember does not slip out of said shaft, and a third operation in whichsaid insertion member is again inserted on said shaft from said secondpredetermined position, the apparatus comprising: detection means fordetecting an insertion force applied during said third operation over apredetermined time after a fixed time has elapsed since a start of saidthird operation; average value computation means for computing anaverage value of results of the detection; and judgement means forjudging a deformation of a front end of said insertion member, based onsaid average value, wherein the insertion member includes an openingformed in a substantially same shape as an outer periphery of the shaft,and the front end of the insertion member contacts the shaft andcomprises a shape of a thin blade continuous in a circumferentialdirection of the shaft.
 45. The apparatus as set forth in claim 42,wherein said judgement means, if the computed average value is greaterthan a predetermined value, judges that said front end has beendeformed.
 46. An apparatus which inserts an insertion member onto ashaft by performing once or a plurality of times a first operation inwhich said insertion member is inserted once onto said shaft at a firstpredetermined position, a second operation in which said insertionmember is pulled out from said first predetermined position to a secondpredetermined position at which said insertion member does not slip outof said shaft, and a third operation in which said insertion member isagain inserted on said shaft from said second predetermined position,the apparatus comprising: detection means for detecting an insertionforce applied during said first operation over a predetermined timeafter a fixed time has elapsed since a start of said first operation andalso detecting a pull-out force applied during said second operationover a predetermined time after a fixed time has elapsed since a startof said second operation; average value computation means for computingan average value of results of the detection performed during said firstoperation and also computing an average value of results of thedetection performed during said second operation; ratio computationmeans for computing a ratio between the detected two average values; andjudgement means for judging a deformation of a front end of saidinsertion member, based on the computed ratio, wherein the insertionmember includes an opening formed in a substantially same shape as anouter periphery of the shaft, and the front end of the insertion membercontacts the shaft and comprises a shape of a thin blade continuous in acircumferential direction of the shaft.
 47. An apparatus which insertsan insertion member onto a shaft by performing once or a plurality oftimes a first operation in which said insertion member is inserted onceonto said shaft at a first predetermined position, a second operation inwhich said insertion member is pulled out from said first predeterminedposition to a second predetermined position at which said insertionmember does not slip out of said shaft, and a third operation in whichsaid insertion member is again inserted on said shaft from said secondpredetermined position, the apparatus comprising: detection means fordetecting an insertion force applied during said first operation over apredetermined time after a fixed time has elapsed since a start of saidfirst operation and also detecting an insertion force applied duringsaid third operation over a predetermined time after a fixed time haselapsed since a start of said third operation; average value computationmeans for computing an average value of results of the detectionperformed during said first operation and also computing an averagevalue of results of the detection performed during said third operation;ratio computation means for computing a ratio between the detected twoaverage values; and judgement means for judging a deformation of a frontend of said insertion member, based on the computed ratio, wherein theinsertion member includes an opening formed in a substantially sameshape as an outer periphery of the shaft, and the front end of theinsertion member contacts the shaft and comprises a shape of a thinblade continuous in a circumferential direction of the shaft.
 48. Theapparatus as set forth in claim 46, wherein said judgement means, if avalue of the computed ratio is less than a predetermined value, judgesthat said front end has been determined.
 49. An apparatus which insertsan insertion member onto a shaft by performing once or a plurality oftimes a first operation in which said insertion member is inserted onceonto said shaft at a first predetermined position, a second operation inwhich said insertion member is pulled out from said first predeterminedposition to a second predetermined position at which said insertionmember does not slip out of said shaft, and a third operation in whichsaid insertion member is again inserted on said shaft from said secondpredetermined position, the apparatus comprising: means for sequentiallymeasuring an insertion force applied during said first operation todetect an insertion force waveform; detection means for estimating arelative position between said shaft and said insertion member from acharacteristic of the detected insertion force waveform and detecting aninsertion force at an estimated position; and judgement means forjudging a deformation of a front end of said insertion member, based ona result of the detection, wherein the insertion member includes anopening formed in a substantially same shape as an outer periphery ofthe shaft, and the front end of the insertion member contacts the shaftand comprises a shape of a thin blade continuous in a circumferentialdirection of the shaft.
 50. The apparatus as set forth in claim 49,wherein said judgement means, if a value of the detection result isgreater than a predetermined value, judged that said front end has beendeformed.
 51. The apparatus as set forth in claim 49, wherein theinsertion force at said estimated position is used by said judgmentmeans in a preliminary judgement of whether or not deformation judgementof said front end is possible.
 52. An apparatus for inserting ainsertion member onto a shaft, comprising: a chuck for directly orindirectly clamping said insertion member; detection means for detectingan insertion force when said insertion member clamped by said chuck isinserted onto said shaft; and judgement means for judging a deformationof a front end of said insertion member, based on a result of thedetection, wherein said detection means detects said insertion force aplurality of times in a predetermined range of said shaft when saidinsertion member is inserted, and an average value of data of aplurality of insertion forces detected by said detection means isemployed in a judgement of deformation by said judgement means, whereinthe insertion member includes an opening formed in a substantially sameshape as an outer periphery of the shaft, and the front end of theinsertion member contacts the shaft and comprises a shape of a thinblade continuous in a circumferential direction of the shaft.
 53. Anapparatus for inserting an insertion member onto a shaft, comprising: achuck for directly or indirectly clamping said insertion member;detection means for detecting an insertion force when said insertionmember clamped by said chuck is inserted onto said shaft, for detectinga pull-out force when said insertion member is pulled out to a positionat which said insertion member does not slip out of said shaft, and fordetecting an insertion force when said insertion member clamped by saidchuck is again inserted onto said shaft; and judgement means for judginga deformation of a front end of said insertion member, based on a resultof the detection, wherein said detection means detects said insertionforce a plurality of times in a predetermined range of said shaft whensaid insertion member is inserted, and an average value of data of aplurality of insertion forces detected by said detection means isemployed in a judgement of deformation by said judgement means, whereinthe insertion member includes an opening formed in a substantially sameshape as an outer periphery of the shaft and the front end of theinsertion member contacts the shaft and comprises a shape of a thinblade continuous in a circumferential direction of the shaft.
 54. Theapparatus as set forth in claim 52, wherein said chuck is attached to aholding means which holds said chuck so that said chuck is freelyslidable along an insertion direction of said insertion member, and saidholding means is urged in the insertion direction of said insertionmember in a no-load state in which said insertion member is not insertedon said shaft.
 55. The apparatus as set forth in claim 47, wherein saidjudgement means, if a value of the computed ratio is less than apredetermined value, judges that said front end has been deformed. 56.The apparatus as set forth in claim 55, wherein said judgement means, ifa value of the detection result is greater than a predetermined value,judges that said front end has been deformed.
 57. The apparatus as setforth in claim 53, wherein said chuck is attached to a holding meanswhich holds said chuck so that said chuck is freely slidable along aninsertion direction of said insertion member, and said holding means isurged in the insertion direction of said insertion member in a no-loadstate in which said insertion member is not inserted on said shaft. 58.The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein if a value of the detectionresult is greater than a predetermined value, it is judged that saidfront end has been deformed.
 59. The method as set forth in claim 3,wherein if a value of the detection result is greater than apredetermined value, it is judged that said front end has been deformed.60. The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein if a value of thedetection result is greater than a predetermined value, it is judgedthat said front end has been deformed.
 61. The method as set forth inclaim 7, wherein if a value of said computed ratio is greater than apredetermined value, it is judged that said front end has been deformed.62. The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein if a value of thedetection result is greater than a predetermined value, it is judgedthat said front end has been deformed.
 63. The method as set forth inclaim 13, wherein if a value of said computed ratio is less than apredetermined value, it is judged that said front end has been deformed.64. The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein if the computed averagevalue is greater than a predetermined value, it is judged that saidfront end has been deformed.
 65. The method as set forth in claim 17,wherein if the computed average value is greater than a predeterminedvalue, it is judged that said front end has been deformed.
 66. Themethod as set forth in claim 20, wherein if a value of the computedratio is less than a predetermined value, it is judged that said frontend has been deformed.
 67. The apparatus as set forth in claim 30,wherein said judgement means, if a value of the detection result isgreater than a predetermined value, judges that said front end has beendeformed.
 68. The apparatus as set forth in claim 31, wherein saidjudgement means, if a value of the detection result is greater than apredetermined value, judges that said front end has been deformed. 69.The apparatus as set forth in claim 34, wherein said judgement means, ifa value of said ratio computed by said ratio computation means isgreater than a predetermined value, judges that said front end has beendeformed.
 70. The apparatus as set forth in claim 37, wherein saidjudgement means, if a value of the detection result is greater than apredetermined value, judges that said front end has been deformed. 71.The apparatus as set forth in claim 40, wherein said judgement means, ifa value of said ratio computed by said ratio computation means isgreater than a predetermined value, judges that said front end has beendeformed.
 72. The apparatus as set forth in claim 43, wherein saidjudgement means, if the computed average value is greater than apredetermined value, judges that said front end has been deformed. 73.The apparatus as set forth in claim 44, wherein said judgement means, ifthe computed average value is greater than a predetermined value judgesthat said front end has been deformed.